Abusing prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs can have serious consequences, according to doctors at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Abuse occurs when someone takes prescription drugs that were not prescribed for them or when patients take more than the recommended dosage. If you find that you are experiencing adverse side effects or have developed an addiction to the drugs, there are ways to get help.
Step 1
Monitor your use of the drugs you take. Prescribed and OTC drugs that are commonly abused include cold medicines that contain dextromethorpahn, opioids, antidepressants and amphetamines. If you take the drug when you do not have a cold or feel no pain, you may have a problem. If you ask others for some of their medicine, that could indicate abuse.
Step 2
Talk to your doctor about your concerns. Explain your symptoms if your pain medication is not easing the discomfort and you feel you need to take more than she prescribed. Ask the doctor if there are other medications she can prescribe that will suffice. Eventually your doctor will question your increased requests for refills and discontinue your treatment and help you find alternatives.
Step 3
Find a treatment center that has specialists on staff to treat prescription or OTC addiction. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (see Resources) provides contacts for treatment centers across the United States and includes information about government-sponsored facilities as well as private treatment programs and their specialties.
Step 4
Look for a treatment center that offers medically supervised detox, especially if you have been taking prescription opioids. Additionally, people who abuse OTC products and prescription medication should receive behavioral counseling to help determine why the person began abusing the drugs and to find other ways to deal with those responses.
Tips and Warnings
- Seek help through a 12-step program such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) that does not deal with a specific substance. The NA direct groups do not discriminate against any person who has a substance abuse problem. Members of NA take prescription and OTC addictions as seriously as heroin or crack addiction and offer support and guidance to those who want to quit.
- Don't try to stop taking any drug without some kind of medical supervision. Side effects from withdrawal from certain drugs can be serious. Withdrawal symptoms when abruptly stopping some medication can include nausea, diarrhea, muscle pain and insomnia.
