Prescription Drug Addiction Test
20 questions to help determine if you have a problem with prescription drug abuse or addiction.
If you are unsure whether you have a problem with prescription drugs, here are 20 questions that will help you decide whether to seek professional help for prescription medication abuse or addiction:
- Has your doctor, spouse or anyone else expressed concern about your use of medications?
- Have you ever decided to stop taking pills only to find yourself taking them again contrary to your previous decision?
- Have you ever felt remorse or concern about taking pills?
- Has your efficiency or ambition decreased since taking pills?
- Have you established a supply for your purse or pocket or to hide away in case of emergency?
- Have you ever been treated by a physician or hospital for excessive use of pills (whether or not in combination with other substances)?
- Have you changed doctors or drug stores for the purpose of maintaining your supply?
- Have you received the same pill from two or more physicians or druggists at approximately the same time?
- Have you ever been turned down for a refill?
- Have you taken the same mind- or mood-affecting medication for over a year only to find you still have the same symptoms?
- Have you ever informed your physician as to which pill works best at
which dosage and had him adjust the prescription to your recommendations? - Have you used a tranquilizer or a sleep medication for a period of months or years with no improvement in the problem?
- Have you increased the dosage, strength or frequency of your medication over the past months or years?
- Is your medication quite important to you; e.g., do you worry about refills long before running out?
- Do you become annoyed or uncomfortable when others talk about your use of medications?
- Have you or anyone else noticed a change of personality when you take your medication, or when you stop taking it?
- Have you ever taken your medication before you had the associated symptom?
- Have you ever been embarrassed by your behavior when under the influence of your prescription drug?
- Do you ever sneak or hide your pills?
- Do you find it impossible to stop or to go for a prolonged period without your pills?
If you have answered YES to three or more or these questions, you may be at serious risk of having a problem with prescription medications. The good news is that treatment is available.
(Reprinted and slightly adapted from "There's More to Quitting Drinking than Quitting Drinking" by Dr. Paul O.)
Sources:
- PrescriptionDrugAbuse.org
APA Reference
Gluck, S.
(2021, December 16). Prescription Drug Addiction Test, HealthyPlace. Retrieved
on 2024, November 2 from https://www.healthyplace.com/addictions/prescription-drugs/prescription-drug-addiction-test