Prescription and Illicit Drug Abuse
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is addiction?
- How does a person become addicted?
- What is the difference between physical dependence and addiction?
- How is addiction to illicit drugs different from addiction to prescription medication?
- Can older people abuse prescription medications without meaning to?
- How does intentional abuse of prescription medications occur?
- What can happen if older adults don’t take their medications as prescribed?
- What are warning signs of medication abuse?
- Which types of prescription medications do older adults abuse the most?
- Will improper use of medications or use of illicit drugs affect me differently because I am older?
- If I use prescription medications the wrong way, how could that affect my health?
- Is it safe to take a friend’s prescription if we share the same medical condition?
- This new medicine I’m taking isn’t working. Can I just take more of it?
- How can I avoid misusing, abusing, or becoming addicted to prescription medications?
- Is there a problem with illicit (illegal) drug use among older adults?
- What is the most commonly abused drug among older adults?
- What effect can marijuana have on my health?
- Is it legal to take marijuana to treat certain health conditions?
- What other illicit drugs might affect older adults?
- How can using illicit drugs affect my health?
- How can an older person avoid abusing or becoming addicted to illicit drugs?
- Is it easy to recognize signs of substance abuse in an older person?
- How is substance abuse treated?
- Where can people get treatment?
- What is usually the first step in treatment?
- How are medications used in treatment?
- What types of behavioral treatments are available?
- I’d really rather get substance abuse counseling with other older people. How can I do that?
- What if someone gets out of treatment and starts using drugs again -- what should you do?
