Approximately 20 percent of the U.S. population have taken prescription drugs for a nonmedical reason at least one time in their lives, according to the National Institutes of Health. Although prescription medications are considered safe for short-term use, extended use can alter the brain's activity and cause serious side effects. Stimulants, opioids and central nervous system depressants---commonly prescribed for sleep disorders and anxiety---represent the three categories of the most frequently abused prescription drugs.
Addiction
Barbiturates and benzodiazepines are sedatives that tranquilize the central nervous system. Depressants are prescribed to relieve anxiety, treat panic disorders and to alleviate sleep disorders. With long-term use, the body adapts to the effects of depressant drugs and more is required to achieve the same results. Opioids are prescription narcotic medications typically prescribed to relieve pain. When taken over a period of time, addiction can result, which may require medical supervision to manage withdrawal symptoms. Medications, exercise, and nutrition and counseling are therapies frequently used to address addiction issues.
Mood Disorders
Prolonged use of stimulant drugs such as amphetamines, cocaine, Ritalin and other ADHD drugs can result in severe behavior changes, according to the website Helpguide.org. Stimulant prescription drugs work by increasing the body's supply of neurotransmitters, and when taken in excess, an increase in the substance dopamine can interrupt communication in the brain and produce an unnatural state of euphoria. When stimulant use is halted, mood changes may occur that affect how individuals feel toward others and themselves and result in food and sleep disturbances. Hostility and feelings of paranoia are known side effects of taking stimulants on a regular basis, according to the National Institutes of Drug Abuse.
Cognitive Impairment
Memory, planning skills, the ability to pay attention, and making plans are cognitive abilities that may be affected by the long-term use of prescription drugs. Prescription drugs that impair sleep or disrupt sleep schedules may also impair judgment and contribute to a decline in overall health. The long-term use of the sleep aid Ambien is associated with serious side effects such as sleepwalking, loss of memory of recent activities and permanent short-term memory loss. Abuse of prescription drugs is particularly worrisome, as additional drugs may be introduced that cause further side effects.
