While the majority of chronic pain patients achieve relief through multimodal approaches that do not include opioids, the use of long-term opioids as one component in the treatment of chronic pain is considered a reasonable approach when other treatment regimens have failed. For most patients, a trial period with the use of coordinated alternative treatments should be tried before long-term opioid therapy is used. When opioids are used, it is important to document their benefit by improvement in functional status. Other studies of the treatment of opioid dependence have compared treatment responses between those with primary heroin and primary prescription opioid dependence.
Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs and Addiction Treatment Programs
The prevalence of prescription drug abuse escalated rapidly beginning in the late 1990s, requiring a significant increase in research to better understand the nature and treatment of this problem. Since this time, a research literature has begun to develop and has provided important information about how prescription drug abuse is similar to, and different from the abuse of other substances. This introduction to a special issue of the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment on prescription drug abuse provides an overview of the current status of the research literature in this area. The papers in this special issue include a sampling of the latest research on the epidemiology, clinical correlates, treatment, and public policy considerations of prescription drug abuse. Although much has been learned about prescription drug abuse in recent years, this research remains in early stages, particularly with respect to understanding effective treatments for this population. Substance abuse is characterized by a harmful pattern of using substances that interfere with daily life and overall well-being.
Types of Substance Abuse
Other misused medications (e.g., antidepressants, bupropion) were not assessed, and we excluded Z‐drugs due to low rates of misuse. Substance abuse is closely linked to mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Many individuals with mental health issues use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate, which can lead to addiction. Prescription drug addiction is one of the biggest health crises facing the United States and should be taken seriously. People addicted to prescription drugs are at high risk of self-destructive behavior, poor health, overdose and death.
Limitations of the review
Martin and colleagues (2014) found that despite a relatively constant rate of admissions of pregnant women to substance use disorder treatment settings from 1992 to 2012, the prevalence of pregnant woman seeking treatment specifically for prescription opioid abuse has increased 14-fold. Prescription drug abuse may be more prevalent among rural pregnant women (Shannon, Havens, & Hays, 2010). Given the importance of treatment for pregnant women to both the health of the mother and of the developing fetus, more research with this subgroup is needed.
Most of these deaths can be attributed to the rise in prescription drug abuse, an epidemic that continues to grow. ISO is often mixed with street heroin, or pressed into counterfeit pills sold on the streets that may resemble prescription drugs, like counterfeit Dilaudid ‘M-8’ tablets and oxycodone ‘M30’ tablets. Denial and anger are common reactions, and you may be concerned about creating conflict or damaging your relationship with that person. Furthermore, a Mayo Clinic quality improvement project found that patients who underwent surgery consumed, on average, only a third of prescribed opioids, with 70% storing leftovers for future use. This practice is particularly dangerous, especially when these drugs fall into the hands of individuals, such as children, who can’t handle the dose or potency. Early identification of prescription drug misuse is a crucial first step in preventing the problem from escalating into an addiction.
Schoenfelder et al. (2014) demonstrated interactions between a prescription stimulant (methylphenidate) and marijuana with respect to heart rate, cognitive performance, and subjective drug effects. Results suggested that the combination of these drugs may have concerning effects, particularly with respect to cardiac health. Research in understudied subgroups, such as older adults and pregnant women, and those with concurrent pain and opioid dependence is needed to better understand the impact of prescription drug abuse on these groups. Another critical future research direction is further study of optimal treatment approaches, including understanding of longer-term treatment outcomes.
What is the scope of prescription drug misuse in the United States?
PDM prevalence rates tend to decline with aging, with greater use of physician sources and greater endorsement of self-treatment motives in older groups. Recreational motives (such as to get high) tend to peak in young adulthood, with greater use https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/prescription-drug-abuse-symptoms-and-treatment/ of peer sources or purchases to obtain medication for PDM in younger groups. PDM co-occurs with other substance use and psychopathology, including suicidality, across age groups.
In the cases where articles from the general population were retained (eg, Compton and colleagues18), these reports were used to establish population-wide baseline estimates for comparison to specific age groups. This left 117 articles and reports for inclusion in the narrative of the review (see Figure 1). Table 1 includes the 117 articles, summarizing the sample, dataset, design, research objectives and key results; it is organized in order of citation number, in the first column.
- These can include chronic heart conditions, impaired breathing, ulcers in the digestive system, hormone regulation interruption, and damage to the reproductive system.
- In attempting to better understand the degree to which prescription drug abuse may differ from illicit drug abuse, several studies have attempted to determine whether there are meaningful subgroups in this population.
- Substance abuse leads to a range of health issues, from short-term effects like impaired judgment and coordination to long-term consequences such as heart disease, liver damage, and mental health disorders.
- There are several validated screening tools to help providers assess the risk of possible opioid misuse (Table 3).
- Martin and colleagues (2014) found that despite a relatively constant rate of admissions of pregnant women to substance use disorder treatment settings from 1992 to 2012, the prevalence of pregnant woman seeking treatment specifically for prescription opioid abuse has increased 14-fold.
Otherwise, the prevalence of past‐year PDM by medication class was largely unchanged from 2015–2019. PDM and poly‐PDM rates in adults 35 years and older did not significantly change, except for an increase in stimulant drug addiction treatment PDM in adults 35–49 years. Addressing underlying mental health conditions can reduce the likelihood of individuals turning to substance use as a way to cope with emotional or psychological pain. In addition to drug-specific symptoms of abuse, some general behaviors may indicate that someone is struggling with prescription drug addiction.