Do you have addictive medications in your house? Are you sure? Keep reading. You may be surprised.

Prescription medications are widely abused in the US. If you still don’t buy that, see last week’s post, and see this 2010 study reporting that 7 million Americans reported using a prescription drug for nonmedical reasons sometime within the past month.

If you’re prescribed a medication that is prone to abuse, it’s wise to be careful about your own use (more about that in a future post). But what about other people? Does anyone else have access to your pills?

Remember that addiction can cause people act against their values, to do things they wouldn’t normally do. Your son can find himself rummaging through your purse, your husband might raid the stash in your sock drawer, and your sweet weekend house guest may have gone through your medicine cabinet.

I don’t mean to make you paranoid...too late? Sorry about that. Don’t panic. But if you have addictive substances in your house, do make sure they are secure.

What are addictive substances? Do you need to hide all of your pills? Your Advil, your Prilosec? What about your sleep medications?

Addictive prescription medications are categorized into roughly three categories: central nervous system (CNS) depressants, opioids, and stimulants.

Central Nervous System Depressants

CNS Depressants slow down brain activity, making them especially useful for treatment of anxiety and sleep issues. They act as sedatives, and their calming effect makes them attractive to those with substance dependence.

Common drugs in this class are benzodiazepines like Xanax, Valium, and Ativan, as well as sleep medications like Ambien. That’s right, sleep medications can be addictive. A less common subcategory in this class is barbiturates like mephobarbital and phenobarbital, which can be used for seizure disorders.

If you’re taking medication for sleep, anxiety, or even a seizure disorder, make sure to check if your medication is addictive.

Opioids

Opioids are a broad class of drug that includes painkillers like morphine and methadone, as well as illegal drugs like heroin. Prescription opioids include OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin (think Dr. House), Demerol, and many others.

Opioid misuse and addiction has become a problem of epidemic proportions in the United States. According to The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) in a 2010 study, “Americans, constituting only 4.6% of the world’s population, have been consuming 80% of the global opioid supply.”

If you have prescription painkillers, guard them carefully.

Stimulants

The third class of potentially addictive meds is stimulants. Examples of prescription stimulants are ADHD medications like Adderall, Ritalin, or Concerta. Illegal stimulants include drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine.

There are also legal, over the counter forms of stimulants. Think you know what are? Take a guess. You can buy them at your local bodega.

That’s right - nicotine and caffeine are also stimulants. But don’t worry, though - you don’t need to hide your Starbucks K-cups. Probably. Unless you live with a Starbucks junkie.

Are your pills getting stolen?

If you or someone in your household is prescribed one of these medications, it’s responsible to make sure that your medications are not being used by others. Count your pills on a regular basis, and if you suspect that some are missing, keep your pills as secure as possible. Buy yourself a small safe if necessary.

Of course, if someone with an addiction has access to your pills, even a safe may not keep your medications secure. If you find yourself in this situation, it’s high time to get help. Call an addictions specialist today.

Shimmy Feintuch, LCSW CASAC-G maintains a private practice in Brooklyn, NY, and Washington Heights, NYC, with specialties in addictions and anxiety. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. Contact: (530) 334-6882 or shimmyfeintuch@gmail.com. 

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