However, the reality is that many prescription drugs are almost identical chemically to illegal drugs.  Many prescription drugs are incredibly addictive and incredibly dangerous if used incorrectly. 

Not only are many Americans getting hooked on prescription drugs by accident, but also the number of Americans abusing prescription drugs on purpose is rapidly growing.

According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 4.7 million Americans use prescription drugs non-medically.  In particular, the growth of the non-medical abuse of prescription drugs by teens is particularly troubling.

According to a stunning 2007 survey conducted for the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than 15 percent of U.S. high school seniors abuse prescription drugs.  The type of prescription drugs that are most commonly abused in this manner include codeine-based painkillers such as oxycodone (OxyContin) and those containing hydrocodone (Vicodin).

The reality is that prescription drug abuse has dramatically increased as these drugs have become easier to get.

For instance, U.S. prescriptions for stimulants have increased from around 5 million prescriptions in 1991 to almost 35 million prescriptions in 2007. In addiction, prescriptions for painkillers such as oxycodone (OxyContin) and hydrocodone (Vicodin) increased from about 40 million in 1991 to approximately 180 million in 2007.

Another sad reality is that prescription drug addiction is also growing rapidly among the elderly.  The elderly are prescribed drugs by doctors more often than any other segment of the population, and sadly more than 17 percent of adults over the age of 60 now abuse prescription drugs.  Many of them never intended to get hooked, but once they got on the prescription drugs that they were given by their doctor they could not get off.

So how do you know if you are addicted to prescription drugs? The following are some of the common symptoms of prescription drug addiction:

-The feeling that you can’t get through the day without taking the drug.

-You are not able to control your prescription drug use. Once you start you find it very hard to stop.

-You find yourself becoming obsessed with prescription drugs.

-You experience repeated failure when you try to quit using prescription drugs.

-You hide your prescription drug use from your family and friends.

-You may find yourself stealing money or committing crimes to obtain money for prescription drugs.

-You may experience increased outbursts of irritability and anger, and you may find yourself resorting to violence much more easily.

-You use prescription drugs as a way to deal with your problems or to deal with physical pain.

-Altered activity levels such as sleeping for 12 to 14 hours at a time or frenzied activity lasting for hours and hours.

-You may have many unexplained absences from work and have difficulty sleeping.

So how can you overcome prescription drug addiction?

There are basically four key steps that you need to take.

#1) Admit You Have A Problem

Most addicts refuse to admit that they are addicts. They ignore the problem and so they never get any treatment for it. If you are going to beat this, then at some point the first step is to admit to yourself and others that you do indeed have a problem.

#2) Decide That You Want To Change

Many addicts are perfectly content to stay in their addicted state. It is comfortable for many of them. But in order to change you have to decide that is what you want, and you aren’t going to accept the pain and suffering that your addiction is causing you any longer.

#3) Reach Out For Help

Talk to someone that you trust and ask for help. This involves swallowing your pride. Often a good first step is to reach out to a trusted family member. After that, reaching out to a professional who works in the field of your addiction or reaching out to a spiritual advisor can be extremely helpful. You are likely to need help in overcoming your addiction, and family, friends and licensed professionals are there to be that help.

#4) Turn To God

Ultimately this is the most important step. Many have found that they did not have the power in themselves to beat an addiction, but that when they turned to God they found all the power that they ever needed. The truth is that we all need God whether we are addicts or not. We are all messed up in some way and we have all sinned. But the good news is that Jesus Christ came to this earth to die for our sins on the cross. We urge you to invite Jesus Christ into your life today, because He will not only help you overcome your addiction - He will forgive your sins and give you eternal life, and nothing is more important than that.

To learn more about how you can become a Christian, we would encourage you to read this…..

http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/1049/1049_01.asp