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While most people think that those with a drug addiction take illegal substances such as cocaine or heroin, the truth is that many individuals struggle with addictions to prescription medication that are being taken for legitimate reasons.
Strong painkillers and sedatives are often prescribed by doctors for chronic pain, depression or sleep disorders, but they are generally recommended for short-term use only. They can be highly addictive and dangerous when abused. Those who take more medication than advised to by their doctor, or those who begin taking their medication at more frequent intervals, can be considered to be abusing their medication.
However, the reality is that even those who take the medication exactly as directed by their doctor could be in danger of developing an addiction if they take it long-term.
Increased Tolerance
With addictive drugs, the body tends to build up a tolerance. This means that the more the person takes, the less effect the medication will have. Individuals who take prescription medication may be heard saying that their tablets do not seem to be working anymore. They may be tempted to take increased doses to get the desired effect, but this can lead to physical dependence.
When they begin to get near to the end of their supply, they may become desperate and agitated, and some will look for sources of their medication elsewhere. This is particularly true if the individual is worried that his or her doctor will no longer prescribe it. Many will look online for cheap prescription medication, which can be extremely dangerous.
The Dangers of Buying Prescription Medication Online
Three friends from a Scottish town are believed to have taken fake Valium pills. After mixing them with heroin substitute Subutex, all died within ten days of each other. Kirsty Gilchrist died on June 9th at her home in Renfrew, and just a week later, her friend Natasha McCann was also dead. Both lived on the same street and were very close.
On 19th June, their friend Hannah McNocher became ill and was taken to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, where she also died.
All three are said to have taken fake blue pills, which they believed to be diazepam. The pills are being sold online for just ten pence each, but they are widely available in Renfrew. These pills often contain harmful chemicals. These particular pills are believed to have been taken alongside Subutex, which the women were taking to treat heroin addiction.
A source from the local area spoke of how both Kirsty and Natasha seemed to be getting their lives back on track, and added, “They were both doting mums and had so much to live for.”
There are now concerns about who else in the area may have purchased the pills. A different source said, “No one can say for sure what the girls took on the nights they died, but the word on the street was that fake diazepam was involved.”
Polydrug Phenomenon
Scotland has recently been plagued by the polydrug phenomenon; drug users are mixing a number of chemical substances to get high. Nevertheless, with little knowledge about what they are actually taking, many people are risking their health and their lives.
The Daily Record has been highlighting the problem and has reported on the fact that fake prescription medication is rampant. Recently, in the space of just two weeks, nine people in Ayrshire died while five people died in Glasgow in just one day after taking fake prescription pills.
This is a tragic story that will just get worse if people continue to buy these pills online. There is no way of knowing what they contain just by looking at them.
Source:
- http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/tragic-pals-who-died-within-8500595#jiYHt8uwmUfYqBwM.97
