However, the highest group of people who become addicted to prescription drugs are elderly females. The drugs that are most often abused include OxyContin, Vicodin, and the Opioids such as Morphine, which are used to treat pain. However, any prescription drug that has an effect on the nervous system can be abused.



There has been an increase seen in addictions to prescription drugs, because it is now possible to buy medication online, sometimes without a prescription. Health care professionals such as doctors and pharmacists should pay attention to addicts who go through their amount of pills faster than normal.

Symptoms associated with abusing prescription drugs include:

* Difficulty sleeping
* A restless feeling
* Decreased breathing

Often people addicted to prescription drugs can be treated in a manner of different ways:

* Counseling
* Use of Methadone to control withdrawal symptoms
* Prescribing Naltrexone, especially in the case of Opioids, to help reduce cravings and counteract the effect of the abused drug.