Prescription drug abuse quickly becomes one of the country’s most widespread and damaging problems. It’s more important than ever to recognize the signs of pill addiction to determine if someone close to you is developing a substance use disorder (SUD) and needs to seek prescription drug addiction treatment. Call 208.486.0130 to speak with someone from Northpoint Recovery’s team about the symptoms of pill addiction, the signs of pill abuse, and how we can help.
The Silent Epidemic of Prescription Pill Abuse
While regulations are improving, they’re still nowhere near as scrutinized as they should be. This is especially true when it comes to pain relievers. The signs of pain pill addiction are easily identifiable, and many pill poppers start with a legitimate prescription for the drugs. They could be given a prescription due to the following:
- Being injured on the job
- Hurt while playing sports
- Throwing out their back doing some yard work
And even though they may have followed their doctor’s orders thoroughly, they still could have developed a physical dependence on the drugs. They are, in fact, opiates. Taking them can result in overdose deaths, the rate of which is continually on the rise in the United States. Other prescription pills are also widely abused, most notably stimulants and central nervous system (CNS) depressants. The highly addictive nature of many of these substances is making it harder to treat addictions to them effectively, especially when it comes to treating opioid addiction.
7 Signs of Pill Addiction in a Loved One
1. They Exhibit Symptoms of Prescription Drug Intoxication
The first step to identifying an abuse problem is knowing how to tell if someone is high on pills. Signs of prescription drug intoxication include the following:
- Slowed or impaired speech
- Unusual euphoria
- Loss of motor coordination
It may not be easy to distinguish between the effects of different prescription drugs, but what’s important is that you discern that intoxication is happening.
2. They Show Physical Signs of Abuse Rather than Normal Usage
One of the best ways you can tell if your loved one’s prescription pill use has turned into a problem is by taking note of the physical symptoms’ intensity change. If your family member has been taking pain pills for a while now and is beginning to fall asleep at dinner or nod off during conversations, these signs are a cause for alarm.
3. You’ve Noticed Changes in Their Physical Appearance
Stimulants, for example, are sometimes prescribed to help with weight management. As such, someone abusing this drug class could show signs of rapid body fat loss. Other prescription drugs, depressants especially, will often carry with them the side effect of rapid weight gain. As a rule of thumb, if you suspect someone is abusing prescription medications, look for unusual weight fluctuations.
4. They Seem to Have a Decreased Interest in Former Passions and Hobbies
You may see this person start to excuse themselves from social events, or maybe they never return your calls. The key here is recognizing that they are trading normal, healthy activities that once brought them joy for spending even more time using.
5. They’re Neglecting Obligations and Responsibilities
Being addicted to prescription pills is an incredibly energy-intensive process. As such, you may notice someone you care about beginning to forget about chores or duties they were usually so willing to carry out before. And when you consider the cravings that addiction carries, especially when it comes to prescription pain medications, it’s no wonder they have such a hard time living up to their promises.
6. You’ve Noticed Missing Money, Items, or Medications
If you live with someone you suspect is struggling with addiction to prescription medication, you may have noticed that some objects around your house have gone missing. While it may be hard to believe, the person you’re living with could sell these to buy more prescription drugs.
7. Be Aware of Your Behavior
Sometimes looking at how you are acting around someone can be the final push you need to realize that they may have a problem with prescription pills. Suppose you continually make excuses for your loved one’s behavior and consistently cover for them when they cannot fulfill their responsibilities. In that case, you may be enabling their prescription drug abuse addiction.
Find Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment in Idaho at Northpoint Recovery
It’s becoming more and more vital that you’re able to spot the symptoms of pill addiction. Doing so will help you get your loved one the help they need to overcome this terrible problem. Contact Northpoint Recovery today at 208.486.0130 to learn more.