Prescription medications are used to treat a variety of physical and mental health conditions, either for a short period of time, or on an ongoing basis. Patients can only access these medications legally with a written prescription from a licensed physician or doctor.
The popularity of prescription drugs has been growing steadily; between 1997 and 2016, the number of prescriptions written for adults and children in America increased 85 percent, from 2.4 billion to 4.5 billion. For many people, prescription medications are beneficial and even life-saving. They can help people recover from short-term illnesses and injuries, or treat chronic conditions so that people can function and continue to live healthy, productive lives.
However, prescription medications are still drugs that affect the brain’s chemistry; as such there is the potential for abuse and addiction, even when medications are prescribed by a doctor. Help.org has been listed as a trusted site for information and assistance by the FDA. Their web site provides a vast array of articles relating to specific drug addictions, includes a drug abuse hotline, and provides information on the rehab locations in West Virginia.