Preventing Prescription Drug Addiction

Prescription drugs are a part of life for many people. We use them to combat infections, to treat mental disorders, and to help overcome whatever ails us when we are sick. Even though prescription drugs can be beneficial, it is easy to develop an addiction, and being addicted to prescriptions can be dangerous. Battling prescription drug addiction is tough, but with the combined effort of physicians, patients, and pharmacists, it is possible to stop an addiction before it escalates. Here are a few tips on stopping this type of addiction at its roots.

Work together. As mentioned earlier, you need to work with both the physician and pharmacist to prevent a prescription drug addiction. Your physician should be screening for signs of drug abuse during routine medical visits. They need to take note of rapid increases of amount of medication required and unscheduled refill requests. Pharmacists must be diligent when checking out prescriptions in case there are forgeries or other false documentation.

Consider healthy alternatives. In many cases, prescription drugs can be a big help in the fight against illnesses. That does not mean that they are your only choice. Consider other options before you go on prescription drugs. Work out regularly, eat healthy, and take multivitamins. Meditation has also been proven to help with treating anxiety and depression, two diseases that often require prescription drugs, which could eventually lead to addiction down the road.

Educate yourself. Never be afraid to ask questions about prescription medication. You should always ask your doctor and your pharmacist about side-effects and likelihood of addiction. It is their job to prevent you from abusing your medicine, so don’t hesitate to seek their guidance. The more you know about your prescriptions, the less likely you are to abuse them and become addicted to them. Be forewarned: it is best to consult with a medical professional about prescription drug addiction. Do not rely solely on information on the Internet.

Prescription drug addiction can be very dangerous. If you or a loved one is facing this issue, you will want to contact a treatment center right away. These prescriptions are meant to help you, not harm you. Don’t let a prescription turn into an addiction.

[cta] Do you have any healthy alternatives to using prescription drugs? Share your thoughts below! [/cta]