Drug addictions do not always start on the street. Some of them begin in a doctor’s office.

How addictive are prescription drugs? Drug abuse research reveals that 18 million people aged 12 and older reported misusing prescription drugs at least once.

Using medications as intended can help you through both physical and mental ailments. However, abusing addictive prescription drugs can lead to serious addictions.

5 Highly Addictive Prescription Drugs

Health education allows you to live a healthier life. Knowing which medications you should use with caution can help you avoid becoming addicted or know when to worry about a loved one. Keep reading to learn 5 of the most addictive prescription drugs that affect Americans.

1. Oxycodone

Doctors prescribe this narcotic medication to treat severe pain. Popular brand names include Oxycontin and Roxicodone.

A less potent form of the drug is Percocet. This drug mixes oxycodone with acetaminophen, which dampens the effect yet still holds potential for abuse.

When used correctly, this prescription effectively treats pain associated with cancer and major surgeries. However, the euphoria it creates makes the potential for abuse extremely high.

This highly addictive opioid medication can lead to heroin abuse. This happens as the person needs higher doses to get high or when the doctor cuts off their supply.

2. Fentanyl

Fentynal, a synthetic opioid, significantly overpowers morphine in potency. Doctors typically prescribe this drug for chronic pain from cancer.

This drug continues to make news headlines due to counterfeit variations getting put into cocaine and heroin to increase the drugs’ potency. This rising problem shows you just how dangerous the drug is as people around the country continue to die from this trend.

You may know it from brand names such as Abstral, Subsys, or Duragesic. People abuse this drug due to the intense, short-lived high it produces. It creates a happily sedated effect.

3. Adderall

Often prescribed to treat conditions like ADHD, Adderall carries a significant potential for drug addiction. People abuse this central nervous system stimulant to feel more awake, focused, and productive.

Throw away your preconceived notion of what an addict looks like. This medication tends to entice parents, students, and professionals.

Though they may feel like the raise up to superhero status, this effect does not come without risk. When used incorrectly, this drug taxes the heart and can change neuropathways in the brain leading to seizures and other unpleasant neural effects.

4. Xanax

Anxiety affects much of our country due to our fast-paced ideals. For this reason, doctors prescribe benzodiazepines like Xanax.

Unfortunately, it’s one of the more addictive prescription drugs due to its sedative, feel-good effects. Misusing the drug can lead to memory impairment, paranoia, and suicidal tendencies.

5. Codeine

You will find this medication in prescription cough syrups. It helps to relieve pain and open up the airway for people suffering from severe bronchitis, acute asthma, and pneumonia.

Codeine also carries the potential for abuse as it is a narcotic analgesic derived from morphine. As with any of these addictions, you should take this seriously and reach out for help from a treatment center, like Inspire Malibu.

Overcome Addiction

Addictive prescription drugs should only be taken when needed and as directed to avoid addiction. But if you or a loved one fall to addiction, seek outpatient treatment to overcome it and take back your life.

We want to help you live well. Learn how to help a loved one overcome addiction on our blog.