How Does Prescription Drug Addiction Start? Understanding the Path to Dependence
When someone you care about begins to change—becoming distant, forgetful, or even secretive—it’s natural to feel confused and concerned. If you’ve discovered your loved one may be misusing a prescription drug, you could be asking yourself: How did this start? Could this have been prevented? What can I do to help?
The truth is that prescription drug addiction often begins with a genuine need—for pain relief, sleep, or emotional stability. It can happen slowly and quietly, even under the supervision of a doctor. Over time, what started as careful use can turn into dependence. Sanford Behavioral Health understands how difficult this is for families—and our prescription drug rehab program helps people reclaim their health with the support of their loved ones.
How does prescription drug addiction start?
Prescription drug addiction can start rather innocently. Someone experiencing severe low back pain after an accident may be prescribed an opioid painkiller to manage their pain when over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen are not effective.
While opioids can work wonders to alleviate pain, they also have addictive properties. Not only do they mitigate pain, but they also induce euphoria, which can encourage a person to take the medication more frequently. As time goes on, they may develop a tolerance to their dose and need to take additional pills to keep pain under control. If they stop taking the medication, they may start to experience withdrawal symptoms, driving them to keep taking their prescription drug despite adverse effects.
What is the main cause of prescription drug abuse?
According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS), the most common reason given for prescription drug misuse is trouble sleeping. Prescription drugs like opioid painkillers and benzodiazepines can have relaxing effects, so if someone is struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep, they may be tempted to misuse their prescription medication.
Certain medications have a higher risk of addiction due to how they affect the brain. For example:
- Opioids (like oxycodone or fentanyl) relieve pain but also produce feelings of euphoria.
- Benzodiazepines (like Xanax or Valium) reduce anxiety and promote relaxation or sleep.
These pleasurable effects can make a person want to continue taking them—even after the original issue improves. The potency of a drug matters, too. A drug like fentanyl is much more potent than others in its class. If someone is prescribed it right away—rather than a milder option—they may become physically dependent much more quickly.
Why do people get addicted to drugs?
Most people who get addicted to medications do not intend to develop an addiction. Overprescription plays a considerable role in the epidemic of prescription drug addiction. Some medical providers may start their patients on too high a dose or too potent a medication, making them more vulnerable to addiction.
Fentanyl is significantly more potent than other opioid painkillers, such as oxycodone, which increases its addictive potential. When fentanyl is prescribed as a first-line treatment for pain management—despite a less potent opioid being sufficient—it heightens the risk of misuse and addiction for the patient.
Also, some providers may not have measures in place to prevent drug-seeking behaviors like doctor shopping, which involves visiting multiple doctors to get additional prescriptions for addictive drugs. Easier access to addictive drugs contributes to higher incidences of addiction.
What are the risk factors for prescription drug addiction?
Several factors can heighten the risk of becoming addicted to prescription medication, including:
- Age: Older adults tend to be prescribed more medications than their younger counterparts, so they are usually exposed to more addictive substances, increasing their risk of prescription drug addiction.
- Gender: As per the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), many women have a higher sensitivity to pain than men and are more likely to use prescription opioids, with or without a prescription, to address pain.
- Overall health: The NIDA asserts that people with mental health conditions, like anxiety and depression, are more likely to use drugs to self-medicate their symptoms.
- Alcohol use: Consuming alcohol while using a prescription drug with addictive properties can amplify the effects of both substances and quickly escalate the risk of developing an addiction to both.
- Marital status: One study found that prescription opioid misuse was lower among married adults with children.
It’s important to remember that these risk factors mean someone may be more vulnerable to developing a prescription drug addiction—they don’t guarantee it will happen. Understanding these factors can help you stay mindful of your loved one’s prescription drug use, allowing you to offer support and guide them toward professional help if they ever need it. Compassion and awareness can make all the difference.
Reach out to Sanford Behavioral Health for expert support on prescription drug addiction and treatment options
If you’re worried that someone you care about may be struggling with medication dependency, don’t wait to take action. At Sanford Behavioral Health, our compassionate team is ready to support you in taking the first step toward recovery. Call us today at 616.202.3326 or contact us online to learn more about helping your loved one overcome prescription drug addiction. We’re also here to provide resources and information about the treatment options available at Sanford Behavioral Health.
