What is Drug Addiction and Can I Get Addicted to Drugs Prescribed For Me?

Most illnesses are self limiting - that means they have to run their course and therefore no drug consumption are required for these conditions. Conversely, drugs are occasionally given to relieve symptoms of the illness while the illness itself takes its course. Drugs would be absolutely essential in some medical conditions without which you may succumb to the illness.

The doctor would decide whether the use of a drug would be necessary for you after taking your clinical history and doing a physical examina­tion. He would make sure that the helpful effects of prescrib­ing a drug be more important than the side effects and the risks of taking the drug. It is therefore wise to take drugs as prescribed by the doctor. If you, however, have any doubts about the drugs you are required to take, you should discuss them with your doctor and let him or her explain to you the need for taking the drug prescribed.

Other than that, certain drugs when frequently taken can make a patient dependent on them. If drug addicts are prevented from taking the drugs which they are addicted to, they will feel unwell and will hunger after the drugs. Most of the drugs pre­scribed by your doctor or pharmacist will not cause addic­tion as these people are aware of the consequences of certain addictive drugs and will choose to avoid prescribing such drugs. Basically, patients with chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus and gout will usually require life long therapy for the control of the illness.

Such drug treatment will not lead to drug addiction, and patients must continue to take the drugs prescribed without fear of drug depend­ency. If the drugs prescribed are not taken as instructed, the chronic disease will cause damage to the body and lead to complications. Drugs that are prone to causing addiction in­clude the narcotic painkillers such as morphine and seda­tives (sleeping tablets). It will not be worthwhile to take such drugs if there are other alternatives available.

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