Do you have a prescription drug addiction?

Prescription drug addiction is on the rise in Australia. Medications that were originally prescribed by a health professional to help improve your quality of life may end up having the opposite effect.

Opioids, Sedatives, and Stimulants are the three main types of medications that people find themselves addicted to. Addiction can present itself in different forms, from continual ongoing use to bingeing with breaks between use. Both can impact your tolerance and dependency, leading you to start using more, more often.

In 2018, opioids were present in 1123 registered drug induced deaths in Australia. Of that, 70% were from pharmaceutical opioids. *

Are you addicted to prescription drugs?

It can be extremely difficult to admit that your need to continue to use these drugs now stems from an addiction. When it comes to identifying an addiction to prescription drugs there are a few honest questions to ask yourself.

Do you have an obsession with your medication?
How often are you thinking about your medication? Are you fixated on when you can have your next dose? Do you go to great lengths to gain your prescription, or do you worry about not having enough and how you need to get more?

Is there a compulsion to take the medication?
Do you really need it, or are you taking it out of habit? Are you continuing to take medication even though it’s no longer necessary? Are you sensitive when someone questions your continued use of the medication or are you hiding your use from others?

Answering yes to any of the above indicates that there may be an issue with your medication usage. If left untreated, even a minor misuse issue can become a much larger problem. Addiction to medication is just like any other addiction. It can lead to physical, financial, and emotional harm as well as negatively impact your relationships, work, and other aspects of life.

Prescription drug addiction treatment is available.

Are you concerned that you or a loved one may have an addiction to prescribed medication? Please call (03) 9533 7888 and chat to the professional team at Arrow Health, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our team will be able to help you work out how serious the problem is and the best approach to dealing with it. They can provide information on various treatment options and guide the way down the road to recovery.

*ABS