Prescription drug addiction is an ever-growing problem in the United States. People receive prescription drugs most often to combat pain. When they become accustomed to taking a pill to relieve that pain, they often become addicted before they even realize what’s happening.

A doctor will write a prescription for drugs to help the patient feel better and be better able to cope with the debilitating symptoms of either an accident or a disease. Because a doctor prescribes this medication, patients often think that taking it is safe. But when they start relying on the drug to get through a day or cope with life, that’s when the prescription drug becomes an addiction.

It is estimated that over 20 million Americans have an addiction to prescription drugs. And we’re not just talking about everyday people. Celebrities, CEO’s, and millionaires alike can become addicted to prescription drugs. It’s the newest problem to afflict famous people and regular, everyday people as well.

If you think you might be struggling with an addiction to prescription drugs, it’s important to first talk to your doctor. He (or she) was the one who prescribed them in the first place, and if you find yourself needing more and more of the drug, you need to cut off your source to begin your recovery process.

When a loved one is suffering from prescription drug addiction, it might be difficult to watch them travel down this road. Chances are good that the reason they were written the prescription in the first place involved a trauma of some sort. You may be more apt to deny their addiction way before they do. This is a huge mistake.

If you are especially close to someone who is taking Vicodin or Oxycontin for pain, keep an eye on how many pills they are taking. You can monitor their usage and take note when you feel they are taking more pills than are necessary.

Many people with a prescription drug addiction are afraid to stop taking their drugs. They are afraid that if they don’t have the drug in their system, the pain will come back. When this addiction has taken hold, the truth is that the pain WILL come back, but in the form of withdrawal symptoms. They don’t need the drug for the original reason anymore, but they need it because their body has become used to having the drug in their system.

Prescription drug addiction is nothing to mess around with. It can take hold quicker than a blink of an eye and never let go. It’s essential for you or your loved one to seek help as soon as possible before the addiction becomes a normal way of life. Recovery from prescription drug addiction is possible, but it starts with an admittance of a problem. Don’t let another day go by, get help now!