Finding The Prescription Pill Problem

There are plenty of people out there who suffer from a crippling addiction to pain killers and over the counter medication but if that is the true medium of the addiction then there is a significant problem with spotting that addiction. There are plenty of men and women out there who suffer every day and yet it goes unnoticed and so it’s hard to get them the proper help they need. If you are suspecting someone you know to have an addiction to pain killers then these are the steps you can take to help them through the mess.

The first thing you can watch for is the sheer volume of pills they go through. See how many different pain killers they are on too. There are many doctors who don’t like to give more than one pain killer at a time. If they are taking two or more there might be cause for concern. The other thing to look for is the doctor who is prescribing it. If they are getting narcotics from more than one doctor that should be a huge red flag. It might be possible that the doctor isn’t being told everything. If you are seeing these pills filled at different pharmacies then you should also raise an issue, especially if it’s a different chain.

Don’t waste a second confronting them. Even if it is just to show your concern then you will be getting your point across and letting them know that you care. You have to look out for them and know the warning signs at all times.

Why People Become Drug Addicts?

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Image by kr4gin via Flickr

People start using drugs in order to manage pain post-operation or post-trauma. However due to the euphoric feeling provided by these pain relievers, people start abusing the drugs for purposes other than pain relieving. People become addicted to the drugs due to the impact it creates on the central nervous system.

Drugs through Blood stream

There are various routes through which the abusive substances are administered into the body by the drug abusers. Drugs taken through blood stream are found to have immediate and immense effect on the person. Intravenous administration of drugs creates a greater rush of feeling than that of the oral drugs as it can easily and directly enter the brain of the person. When these substances are taken in empty stomach they can enter blood stream faster and thus creates more effect.

Neurotransmitters

Brain has numerous chemical substances that act as neurotransmitters which help in controlling the behavior of a person.

• Dopamine is one such neurotransmitter which regulates the movement and feelings like pleasure, energy and punishment. Cocaine, marijuana, heroin and other such drugs increase the levels of dopamine thus producing an euphoria.

• Noradrenaline is an excitatory neurotransmitter which arouses alerts and makes a person happy. Hence stimulant drugs induce these neurotransmitters.

• Serotonin is the neurotransmitter which regulates the moods. Alcohol, hallucinogens have an effect on this neurotransmitter.

• Endorphins are essential for pain relief and the substances like opioids and depressants affect neurotransmitter.
Effect of Drugs

Substances that are abused generally interfere, hinder or increase the activities of the neurotransmitters and receptors of the brain. For example, stimulant drugs increase the level of neurotransmitters above normal leading to an enhanced euphoric feeling. As these substances influence the way these neurotransmitters act or received by the receptors, the behavior of a person become uncontrollable and the person starts craving for the substance again and again in order to experience that feeling repeatedly.