Prescription Drug Misuse

• Opioids: usually prescribed to treat pain
• Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants: used to treat anxiety (includes tranquilizers, sedatives, and hypnotics)
• Stimulants: most often prescribed to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

阿片类药物通常被用作药物，因为它们含有放松神经的化学物质 body and can relieve pain. Prescription opioids are used mostly to treat moderate to severe pain, though some opioids can be used to treat coughing and diarrhea. Opioids 也能让人感到非常放松和“兴奋”——这就是为什么他们有时会这样 used for non-medical reasons. This can be dangerous because opioids can be highly addictive, and overdoses and death are common. Heroin is one of the world's most dangerous opioids, and is never used as a medicine in the United States.

What are common prescription opioids?

• hydrocodone (Vicodin^®) oxycodone (OxyContin^®, Percocet^®)
• oxymorphone (Opana^®)
• morphine (Kadian^®, Avinza^®)
• codeine
• fentanyl

What are some possible effects of prescription opioids on the brain and body?

在短期内，阿片类药物可以缓解疼痛，使人感到放松和快乐. However, opioids can also have harmful effects, including:

• drowsiness
• confusion
• nausea
• constipation
• euphoria
• slowed breathing

阿片类药物滥用会导致呼吸缓慢，从而导致缺氧，这种情况 results when too little oxygen reaches the brain. Hypoxia can have short- and long-term 心理和神经方面的影响，包括昏迷，永久性脑损伤，或者 death. Researchers are also investigating the long-term effects of opioid addiction on the brain, including whether damage can be reversed.

What are the other health effects of opioid medications?

老年人意外误用或虐待的风险更高，因为他们通常 有多重处方和慢性疾病，增加服药服药的风险 以及药物与疾病的相互作用，以及影响分解的新陈代谢减慢 of drugs. Sharing drug injection equipment and having impaired judgment from drug 使用大麻会增加感染艾滋病毒等传染病的风险 unprotected sex.

Can a person overdose on prescription opioids?

Yes, a person can overdose on prescription opioids. An opioid overdose occurs when a person uses enough of the drug to produce life-threatening symptoms or death. When people overdose on an opioid medication, their breathing often slows or stops. This 会减少到达大脑的氧气量，从而导致昏迷， permanent brain damage, or death.

How can an opioid overdose be treated?

如果你怀疑有人吸毒过量，最重要的一步是拨打911 so he or she can receive immediate medical attention. Once medical personnel arrive, they will administer naloxone. Naloxone is a medicine that can treat an opioid overdose when given right away. It works by rapidly binding to opioid receptors and blocking the effects of opioid drugs.

Can use of prescription opioids lead to addiction?

是的，反复滥用处方阿片类药物会导致物质使用障碍 (SUD)，一种从轻微到严重，从暂时到慢性的医学疾病. Addiction is the most severe form of an SUD. An SUD develops when continued misuse 这种药物会改变大脑，导致健康问题和无法履行职责 at work, school, or home.

对阿片类药物上瘾的人停止使用这种药物会有严重的戒断反应 symptoms that begin as early as a few hours after the drug was last taken. These symptoms include:

• muscle and bone pain
• sleep problems
• diarrhea and vomiting
• cold flashes with goose bumps
• uncontrollable leg movements
• severe cravings

这些症状可能非常不舒服，这也是许多人发现的原因 it so difficult to stop using opioids. 

中枢神经系统(CNS)抑制剂是一种药物，包括镇静剂、镇静剂、 and hypnotics. These drugs can slow brain activity, making them useful for treating anxiety, panic, acute stress reactions, and sleep disorders.

CNS depressants cause drowsiness; sedatives are often prescribed to treat sleep disorders 就像失眠和催眠可以诱导睡眠，而镇静剂是处方药 to treat anxiety or to relieve muscle spasms.

Examples of CNS Depressants

• diazepam (Valium^®)
• clonazepam (Klonopin^®)
• alprazolam (Xanax^®)
• triazolam (Halcion^®)
• estazolam (Prosom^®)
• zolpidem (Ambien^®)
• eszopiclone (Lunesta^®)
• zaleplon (Sonata^®)

How do CNS depressants affect the brain?

Most CNS depressants act on the brain by increasing activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical that inhibits brain activity. This action causes the drowsy and 镇静作用，使药物有效的焦虑和睡眠障碍. 开始服用中枢神经系统抑制剂的人通常会感到困倦和身体不协调 the first few days until the body adjusts to these side effects. Other effects from use and misuse can include:

• slurred speech
• poor concentration
• confusion
• headache
• light-headedness
• dizziness
• dry mouth
• problems with movement and memory
• lowered blood pressure
• slowed breathing

如果一个人长期服用中枢神经系统抑制剂，他或她可能需要更大的剂量来 achieve therapeutic effects. Continued use can also lead to dependence and withdrawal when use is abruptly reduced or stopped. Suddenly stopping can also lead to harmful consequences like seizures.

Can a person overdose on CNS depressants?

Yes, a person can overdose on CNS depressants. An overdose occurs when the person uses enough of a drug to produce life-threatening symptoms or death.

When people overdose on a CNS depressant, their breathing often slows or stops. This 会减少到达大脑的氧气量，这种情况被称为缺氧吗. 缺氧会对精神和神经系统产生短期和长期的影响， including coma and permanent brain damage.

How can a CNS depressant overdose be treated?

最重要的一步是拨打911，这样过量服用的人就能接到电话 immediate medical attention. Flumazenil (Romazicon^®是一种医疗人员可以用来治疗苯二氮卓类药物过量的药物 and has also been shown effective in treating overdose from sleep medicines. The drug 可能不能完全逆转呼吸减慢，并可能导致某些患者癫痫发作 who are taking certain antidepressants. Flumazenil is short acting, and the patient may need more of it every 20 minutes until he or she recovers. For barbiturates and 非苯二氮卓类药物，体温，脉搏，呼吸和血压 be monitored while waiting for the drug to be eliminated.

处方中枢神经系统抑制剂的使用会导致成瘾和物质使用障碍吗?

是的，使用或滥用处方中枢神经系统抑制剂会导致使用问题，这是众所周知的 as a substance use disorder (SUD), which takes the form of addiction in severe cases. Long-term use of prescription 中枢神经系统抑制剂，即使是医生开的处方，也会导致一些人患上这种疾病 耐受性，这意味着他们需要更高和/或更频繁的药物剂量 to get the desired effects. A SUD develops when continued use of the drug leads to 消极后果，如健康问题或未能履行责任 at work, school, or home, but despite all that the drug use continues.

那些对处方中枢神经系统抑制剂上瘾并停止使用的人 drug abruptly may experience a withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms-which can begin as early as a few hours after the drug was last taken—include:

• seizures
• shakiness
• anxiety
• agitation
• insomnia
• overactive reflexes
• increased heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature with sweating
• hallucinations
• severe cravings

对处方中枢神经系统抑制剂上瘾的人不应该试图停止服用 them on their own. Withdrawal symptoms from these drugs can be severe and—in the case of certain medications-potentially life—threatening.

处方兴奋剂是通常用于治疗注意力缺陷多动症的药物 disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy—uncontrollable episodes of deep sleep. They increase alertness, attention, and energy.

What are common prescription stimulants?

• dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine^®)
• dextroamphetamine/amphetamine combination product (Adderall^®)
• methylphenidate (Ritalin^®, Concerta^®).

How do prescription stimulants affect the brain and body?

Prescription stimulants increase the activity of the brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine. Dopamine is involved in the reinforcement of rewarding behaviors. Norepinephrine 影响血管、血压、心率、血糖和呼吸.

Short-Term Effects

使用处方兴奋剂的人报告说，他们会感到“兴奋”(欣快感) the following:

• increased blood pressure and heart rate
• increased breathing
• decreased blood flow
• increased blood sugar
• opened-up breathing passages

高剂量的处方兴奋剂会导致危险的高体温， an irregular heartbeat, heart failure, and seizures.

What are the other health effects of prescription stimulants?

反复滥用处方兴奋剂，即使在短时间内，也会导致 psychosis, anger, or paranoia. If the drug is injected, it is important to note that 共用药物注射设备和因滥用药物而导致判断力受损 increase the risk of contracting infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis.

Can a person overdose on prescription stimulants?

Yes, a person can overdose on prescription stimulants. An overdose occurs when the person uses enough of the drug to produce a life-threatening reaction or death.

当人们过量服用处方兴奋剂时，他们通常会经历几种 不同的症状包括烦躁不安颤抖反应过度呼吸急促 神志不清，有攻击性，幻觉，恐慌，发烧，肌肉 pains and weakness.

他们也可能有心脏问题，包括导致心脏病的不规则心跳 发作，神经问题可能导致癫痫发作，血压异常高或低， and circulation failure. Stomach issues may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. In addition, an overdose can result in convulsions, coma, and fatal poisoning.

How can a prescription stimulant overdose be treated?

因为处方兴奋剂过量通常会导致心脏病发作或癫痫发作， 最重要的一步是拨打911，这样过量服用的人就能接到电话 immediate medical attention. First responders and emergency room doctors try to treat 过量服用的目的是恢复心脏的血液循环并停止 seizure with care or with medications if necessary.

Can prescription stimulant use lead to substance use disorder and addiction?

Yes, misuse of prescription stimulants can lead to a substance use disorder (SUD), which takes the form of addiction in severe cases. Long-term use of stimulants, 即使是医生开的处方，也会导致一个人产生耐受性，也就是说 他或她需要更高和/或更频繁的药物剂量来达到预期的效果 effects. An SUD develops when continued use of the drug causes issues, such as health problems and failure to meet responsibilities at work, school, or home. Concerns about use should be discussed with a health care provider.

如果一个人发展为SUD并停止使用处方兴奋剂，他或她 can experience withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms can include:

• fatigue
• depression
• sleep problems