The Evidence - Science Doesn't Lie
Prescription Drug Abuse: Not What the Doctor Ordered
The general rule about pills is that if your doctor didn't prescribe them for you or you aren't taking them as directed for a specific illness, don't down those pills. The results can be fatal.
Many prescription drugs can be misused and abused. Generally, these drugs fall into three different classes: opioids (used to treat pain), depressants (used to treat anxiety), and stimulants (used to treat narcolepsy and/or attention/hyperactivity disorder).
Opioids include OxyContin, Codeine, and Vicodin. Taking a large single use of any of these drugs can cause depressed breathing and death. Long-term use can lead to physical dependence, including tolerance and withdrawal.
Depressants, like Valium and Xanax, or barbiturates (like Mebaral) act on the pleasure circuit in the brain by altering the level of a certain neurotransmitters -gammaaminobutyric acid (GABA). Continued use of depressants can lead to physical dependence. These drugs also slow heart and breathing patterns and can be deadly. Many people who take this class of drugs suffer from major withdrawal symptoms when they stop - and this is sometimes life threatening itself.
Stimulants, like Ritalin, increase blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. This, in turn, constricts blood vessels, and increases blood glucose. There is also an increase in dopamine. When misused, these drugs can be highly addictive. Taking high doses of a stimulant can result in an irregular heartbeat, dangerously high body temperatures, and/or the potential for cardiovascular failure or seizures. Taking high doses of some stimulants repeatedly over a short period of time can lead to hostility or feelings of paranoia in some people.
