Types of Pills

Thousands of different types of pills exist but not all of them have a potential for causing addiction or for being abused.  In fact, most types of pills don’t cause any form of “high” or “good feeling” and therefore they are not abused or taken incorrectly most of the time.  The types of pills that you may see on a store shelf or in a pharmacy include painkillers, diet pills, anti-anxiety medications, cold and flu pills, birth control pills, and pills to treat hundreds of different medical and mental health conditions.  The primary types of pills that are abused include painkillers, diet pills, and certain prescription medications that are used to treat anxiety or depression.

Painkillers

Painkillers are available both over-the-counter and on a prescription basis.  The prescription painkillers are most often narcotic and these have the greatest potential for causing dependence and becoming habit forming.  Painkillers such as methadone, Oxycodone, Oxycontin, Lortab, hydrocodone, morphine and Demerol are all part of the opiate family and must be prescribed to the patient by a doctor or they are purchased illegally on the street.

Diet Pills

Another type of pill that can cause dependence in some users is the diet pill.  Many diet pills are available over-the-counter and there are also a few types of diet pills that have been approved for prescription use.  Diet pills often include caffeine and other stimulants that are the primary source of the physical addiction that occurs when these drugs are taken.  Psychological addiction may also result from taking diet pills as the individual thinks that this is the “only way” to lose the weight.

Anti-Anxiety Pills

Many different anti-anxiety pills are abused and sold illegally on the street including Xanax, Klonopin and Valium.  Each of these types of pills has a wide potential for abuse, can cause addiction and may lead to deadly consequences if taken improperly.  Anti-anxiety pills typically cause physical and psychological dependence within a matter of just a few days of taking them and for some this dependence is very difficult to overcome even with treatment and rehabilitation.

Muscle Relaxers

Another commonly abused type of pill is the muscle relaxer.  Muscle relaxers such as Soma are most often prescribed to those who suffer from back pain, muscle spasms or other disorders such as RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome).  Although they have a much lower potential for abuse than painkillers, muscle relaxers can cause dependence as a result of the physical tolerance that builds when these drugs are taken.