If you are taking any kind of medication, it might be annoying to have your parents constantly checking up on you, but this is only because they really want you to get better. If you are in charge of taking your medication on your own, it is important to appreciate what a huge responsibility this is and to make sure you do not abuse the privilege.
Medications are generally safe when used properly but if you decide to use them in a different way, the dangers can be great. Teen prescription drug addiction is becoming increasingly common, and the more powerful the medication you have been prescribed, the greater the risks involved.
Taking Medication Properly
Remembering to take your medication on time is never easy. If you are busy with school, working a part-time job and enjoying an active social life, sticking to the schedule that your doctor has given you can be a challenge.
Many drugs take a few days or weeks to build up to the right level of concentration inside your body to become effective. If you miss a dose or two, it can set your treatment schedule back or even make your condition worse. Taking your medication properly is the best way to ensure you live a long, healthy life.
Drug Interaction
People who are take prescription drugs are usually given specific instructions about how to ensure the medication is effective and does not cause them any harm. For example, they may have to avoid alcohol or not take certain other medications at the same time.
If you are taking prescription drugs without medical advice, it is important to be aware that this could produce dangerous side effects if you mix such drugs together. Even if you do have a prescription, you need to follow any instructions you have been given; otherwise, you might find that the medication interacts with vitamins, alcohol or other medications you might be taking.
Prescription Drug Addiction
Many teenagers struggle with addiction to prescription drugs. If you find yourself in this situation, you are not alone and help is available. You may have been taking Vicodin, OxyContin or other prescription painkillers that were supplied by your physician and then simply became hooked over time. Alternatively, you may have first encountered the drugs in a recreational setting and tried them out with friends, only to find yourself unable to stop. In both cases, addiction occurs because your body requires more and more of the drug to produce the same effect and eventually cannot survive without it.
Recreational Use
If your doctor has placed you on a course of medication, some of the people you know will begin to look at you as a good source for prescription drugs. They may even offer you money to pass some of your medication on to them. Although it may be extremely difficult, you need to try to avoid pressure put on you from your peers.
For one thing, passing your medication to others in this way is against the law. You also have no idea what effect your drugs might have on other people, especially if they choose to mix them with other legal and illegal substances. If someone were to become ill because of the medication you supplied to him or her, you may have to shoulder the blame.
Addiction
After abusing prescription drugs on a regular basis, many teens may find themselves hooked. This is more likely to occur if you have been using the drugs in a way that changes the way they affect your body. For example, some tablets have a time-release coating, which means they break down in the stomach over the course of several hours, releasing a steady stream of active ingredients throughout the course of the day. Crushing these tablets and then snorting or injecting the powder can produce a high but also vastly increases your chances of becoming addicted.
If you are addicted to medication of any kind, contact us today. We are here 24/7 to answer any questions you have about addiction and to offer you help and support.
