Can You Get Addicted to Prescription Pills?
Yes, and prescription pill addiction is one of the most common, most misunderstood, and most underdetected forms of Substance Use Disorder. The fact that a doctor prescribed the medication is one of the primary reasons families, and the person using fail to recognize the problem. This guide cuts through that confusion.
Medically Reviewed by:
Dr. Darrin Mangiacarne
Chief Medical Officer
At Banyan Treatment Centers, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Darrin Mangiacarne leads our nationwide clinical team with over a decade of addiction medicine experience, helping ensure evidence-based, compassionate care across every level of treatment.
Author / Written by: Banyan Editorial Staff
Medically reviewed by: Dr. Darrin Mangiacarne, CMO
Updated on: October 2026
Family Resources Hub › Substance Use Resources › Can You Get Addicted to Prescription Pills?
The signs of prescription drug addiction can vary depending on the medication but may include taking higher doses, running out of medication early, increasing tolerance, experiencing withdrawal symptoms, changes in mood or behavior, and continuing to misuse a medication despite negative consequences. This guide explains commonly abused prescription drugs, warning signs, risk factors, and what families can do when they suspect a loved one is struggling with prescription drug abuse.
Prescription Drug Abuse and Addiction Can Begin With Prescribed Medication
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), prescription drug misuse commonly involves three major medication classes: opioid pain relievers, central nervous system (CNS) depressants, including benzodiazepines, and stimulants.
The widespread belief that prescription drugs are safe simply because they come from a doctor can create a significant blind spot. Prescription medicines can be safe and effective when used according to a health care provider's instructions, but some medications also carry risks of physical dependence, misuse, overdose, or addiction.
Taking a medication differently than prescribed, taking someone else's medication, or using medication to get high is commonly called prescription drug misuse. Prescription drug abuse can also involve taking higher doses, combining drugs in unsafe ways, or using medications for reasons other than those for which they were prescribed.
Prescription addiction can develop along a deceptive pathway, sometimes beginning with legitimate, medically appropriate use. This means both families and the person using the medication may not recognize the transition from appropriate use to drug misuse and addiction until problems begin to emerge.
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Which Prescription Drugs Are Most Commonly Misused?
Several classes of prescription medicines can be misused. Among the most commonly misused prescription drugs are opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines and other CNS depressants, and prescription stimulants. Each carries different risks, signs and symptoms, withdrawal concerns, and treatment considerations.
Opioid Pain Relievers: Prescription Drug Abuse and Overdose Risk
Includes: Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin), morphine, codeine, tramadol, fentanyl patches
Opioids may be prescribed to treat pain, including pain following surgery or injury and certain forms of severe or chronic pain. The risk associated with opioid medications can change depending on the medication, dose, duration of use, individual health factors, and whether they are taken according to the prescribed dose.
How Addiction Develops
- Often begins after legitimate injury, surgery, or chronic pain treatment
- Tolerance builds — the same dose produces less pain relief
- Person begins taking higher doses without physician guidance
- Use expands beyond the original pain indication
- Person begins using to feel "normal" rather than to manage pain
- Supply runs out early; they seek additional sources
Signs of Prescription Drug Addiction Involving Opioids
- Running out of medication before the refill date
- Visiting multiple doctors to obtain additional medication
- Using pills prescribed to other family members
- Taking a friend's prescription painkiller
- Appearing sedated or "nodding off" at unusual times
- Pinpoint pupils
- Flu-like withdrawal symptoms when the medication runs low
- Extreme mood changes correlated with pill supply
- Taking larger drug quantities or higher doses than prescribed
These warning signs do not independently establish a diagnosis, but multiple changes in medication use, behavior, and physical symptoms can indicate that professional evaluation is appropriate.
Benzodiazepines and CNS Depressants: Serious Withdrawal Risks
Includes: Alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), zolpidem (Ambien), carisoprodol (Soma)
These medications may be prescribed for anxiety, panic disorder, insomnia, and other conditions. Some anti-anxiety medicines and CNS depressants can lead to physical dependence, particularly with ongoing use.
How Addiction Develops
- Often prescribed for anxiety, panic disorder, or insomnia
- Physical dependence can develop with regular use
- Rebound anxiety when a dose wears off may contribute to continued use
- Person may not recognize they have developed physical dependence
- Combining these medications with alcohol or other depressants can increase medical risks
- Psychological reliance may develop around anxiety relief
Signs and Symptoms Families May Notice
- Slurred speech or appearing intoxicated without alcohol
- Poor coordination and memory problems
- Extreme anxiety between doses
- Taking more than the prescribed dose
- Running out of the prescription early
- Combining the medication with alcohol or other drugs
- Personality changes, including irritability or hostility
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when reducing or missing doses
Prescription Stimulants and Drug Misuse
Includes: Amphetamine (Adderall), methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta), lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)
Prescription stimulants are commonly used to treat ADHD and certain other medical conditions. Prescription drug misuse can occur when someone takes stimulants without a prescription, uses higher doses than prescribed, or changes how the medication is taken.
How Addiction Develops
- May begin with a legitimate ADHD diagnosis and appropriate treatment
- Can begin through diversion, using pills prescribed to others
- May be misused as "study drugs"
- Drug tolerance can develop, particularly with misuse or escalating doses
- A crash after use may contribute to repeated use
- Some people may transition to illicit stimulants if prescription access is lost
Warning Signs for Families
- Significant weight loss and decreased appetite
- Sleeping very little for extended periods, then crashing
- Mood swings, euphoric highs followed by irritable crashes
- Taking higher doses than prescribed
- Using prescription medication without a prescription
- Feeling unable to function without the medication
- Cardiovascular symptoms such as rapid heart rate or high blood pressure
Risk Factors for Prescription Drug Addiction
Prescription drug addiction can affect people from many backgrounds, but certain risk factors may increase vulnerability. Understanding these factors can help families recognize when closer monitoring, conversations with a care provider, or professional assessment may be appropriate.
Personal or Family History of Substance Abuse or Addiction
A personal or family history of substance use disorder, including previous problems involving drugs or alcohol, can increase vulnerability to addiction. Past or present addictions should be discussed with prescribing health care providers so they can consider this information when making treatment decisions. A history of addiction does not mean a person will inevitably develop prescription drug addiction, but it is an important risk factor.
Mental Health Conditions
Anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, and other mental health concerns can sometimes occur alongside problematic substance use. Some people may begin misusing drugs in an attempt to cope with emotional distress or other symptoms. When prescription drug misuse and mental health concerns occur together, an evaluation can help determine appropriate treatment for both.
Teens and Young Adults
Teens and prescription drugs are an important concern because medications may be available in homes through prescriptions belonging to parents, siblings, or other family members. Using another person's prescription medication, including a friend's prescription painkiller or stimulant, is prescription drug misuse and can carry serious health risks.
Long-Term or High-Dose Prescribing
The longer and at higher doses a person uses certain medications, particularly opioids and benzodiazepines, the greater the possibility of developing physical dependence. Physical dependence alone does not necessarily mean addiction is present. Families should nevertheless be aware when a loved one has been taking these medications for extended periods and watch for signs of prescription drug addiction, including escalating use, loss of control, or taking medication differently than prescribed.
Chronic Pain and Opioid Painkillers
People managing chronic pain can face a complex balance between legitimate pain relief and the risks associated with long-term opioid use. A person taking pain medicine exactly as prescribed may develop physical dependence without developing addiction. Concerns become different when someone repeatedly takes more than prescribed, obtains opioids from other sources, or continues misuse despite harmful consequences.
Counterfeit Prescription Drugs and Ordering Drugs Online
Another risk involves counterfeit prescription pills obtained outside licensed pharmacies. Pills sold as legitimate medications may contain unexpected substances or different quantities than the person believes they are taking. Ordering drugs online from unverified sources can expose people to counterfeit and dangerous drugs. Websites that sell counterfeit prescription medications may make pills look similar to legitimate prescription medicines even when their contents are unknown.
What Families Can Do When They Notice Signs of Prescription Drug Addiction
Recognizing the signs of prescription drug addiction does not mean families should diagnose the person themselves. The next step is to focus on safety, document concerning patterns, and involve appropriate health care or addiction professionals.
Talk to Their Prescribing Health Care Provider
If you are a family member with appropriate access, speak directly with the prescribing physician about your concerns. Health care providers can evaluate medication use, identify possible drug abuse or dependence, adjust prescribing practices when appropriate, and refer someone for an addiction evaluation. HIPAA may limit what a provider can disclose to you, but family members can still share observations and concerns with the provider.
Secure Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medicines
Lock up prescription medicines, particularly opioids, benzodiazepines, and stimulants, when there is concern about misuse in the household. Families should also keep medications in their original containers and avoid sharing prescription medication with anyone for whom it was not prescribed.
Dispose of Unused or Expired Drugs
Properly disposing of unused or expired drugs can reduce opportunities for prescription drug misuse. The FDA and DEA provide guidance and programs for medication disposal, and many pharmacies maintain drug drop-off locations. Follow FDA instructions when determining whether a medication should be placed in household trash, taken to a drug collection site, or handled another way.
Do Not Enable Access to Misused Prescription Drugs
If you believe your loved one is misusing prescription medications, do not allow them access to your prescriptions. Do not dismiss warning signs simply because the medication was originally prescribed by a doctor. Families should also be cautious when someone begins seeking multiple drugs, obtaining medications from friends, or repeatedly attempting to acquire larger quantities than prescribed.
Seek a Professional Addiction Evaluation
If prescription drug abuse or addiction is suspected, an addiction professional or qualified health care provider can assess the person's symptoms, pattern of use, physical dependence, and other relevant factors. When treatment is appropriate, recommendations may depend on the medication involved and the person's individual needs. Addiction treatment can include behavioral therapy, medical care, support services, and medications when clinically appropriate.
Never Stop Certain Prescription Medicines Abruptly
If you believe your loved one needs to stop taking prescription medication, involve the prescribing physician or another qualified health care provider. People who have developed physical dependence may experience withdrawal symptoms when medication is suddenly reduced or discontinued. The risks and common withdrawal symptoms vary by drug, which is why medication changes should be guided by an appropriate medical professional.
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