Do you have a chronic pain issue that affects your quality of life? If so, you are definitely not alone in your struggle, as many North Carolina residents wake up every morning knowing that the day that lies ahead is likely going to include personal, physical pain. Perhaps you suffered an injury in a car accident and now live with the residual effects, or maybe you have an underlying health condition that causes pain in one or more parts of your body.
If your condition does not keep you from carrying out your daily duties, you may find it necessary to take medication to alleviate discomfort, at least to the point that you can go to work, take care of your children or perform other typical tasks that you tend to encounter on an average day. Doctors often prescribe drugs to help people who have chronic pain; however, not every person using such drugs has a valid prescription to do so. Prescription drugs unfortunately can lead to addiction and legal problems.
Three types of drugs that should make you cautious
Chronic pain issues are not the only problems people have that prompt them to use prescription drugs. The following list includes three main types of prescription medications, along with brief explanations of common uses for such drugs:
- Opioids are strong narcotic drugs that most doctors prescribe to relieve severe pain. Codeine and morphine are types of opioids; however, so are fentanyl, heroin and other street drugs, any of which can lead to dependence and lethal overdose.
- The drug Adderall has been in the news quite often lately, as it is one of several stimulant drugs that doctors use to treat conditions, such as narcolepsy and attention deficit disorder. It also ranks high on most lists for drugs that college students often abuse.
- Central nervous system drugs have the opposite effect of stimulants. If you have trouble sleeping or suffer from anxiety, your doctor might prescribe a CNS medication to help treat your condition.
Taking a prescription drug that your doctor prescribes according to the directions on the label is vastly different from misusing such drugs by crushing and snorting pills into powder or sharing meds with people for whom a particular prescription was not intended. These types of drug-related behavior can land you in serious legal trouble.
Finding the help and support you need and deserve
There are thousands of people in North Carolina and throughout the nation who are currently battling prescription drug addictions. There is absolutely no shame in reaching out for support if a drug situation has gotten out of hand in your life or in the life of someone you love. Some addiction problems are compounded by legal issues, in which case, you’ll be glad to know that experienced legal counsel is readily available to help protect your rights and to fight to minimize any potential consequences you may be facing.