Recently, our hospital admitted a patient with a history of drug abuse. Initially, when the medical staff tried to communicate with him, he refused to acknowledge his drug addiction, claiming that he absolutely did not need to be hospitalized for treatment in our hospital.
“The drugs I take are all prescribed by a doctor. I don’t just buy them randomly. You must have made a mistake!”
It was found that this patient had previously sought treatment at a hospital for psychological issues, where the doctor had prescribed medications to him. After signs of a relapse of his old condition, he resorted to purchasing and consuming the drugs prescribed by the doctor on his own, which led to addiction.
Upon admission, he already had a craving for the drug and exhibited symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, and depression.
After a period of treatment in our hospital, he realized that self-medicating with psychiatric drugs was unwise, and acknowledged his drug abuse addiction. With his active cooperation in treatment, his physical condition has significantly improved, and he is expected to be discharged soon.
At this point, you might be wondering why there are problems when one buys and uses drugs that were prescribed by a doctor.
This is because the medications this patient purchased are for treating psychological disorders, which typically have an impact on the central nervous system and brain cells. Each stage, and even stricter, the daily dosage and type of medication require evaluation by a professional doctor.
Later on, the patient experienced similar symptoms again, but without the assessment of a professional doctor, it was uncertain whether it was the same illness as before, as many illnesses manifest similar symptoms. Consequently, it was even more challenging to determine if the type and dosage of the medication should be the same as before. In such a situation, the patient made a decision independently, leading to the easy mistake of “taking the wrong medication” and ultimately resulting in drug abuse and addiction.
In addition, our hospital once treated a patient with drug addiction, whose behavior was even more unacceptable: influenced by online articles and links claiming to “self-assess mental health conditions,” he compared his symptoms and concluded that they were similar to depression. Hence, he searched for drugs to treat depression online, purchased and took one of them. Fortunately, he found the side effects unbearable after a few doses and stopped, or else the consequences would have been unpredictable.
In the aforementioned scenarios, individuals consuming drugs for therapeutic purposes, although not ideal, could be understood. From the cases our hospital has handled, there is a portion of people who, despite having no symptoms, consume drugs out of curiosity or seeking pleasure. Many individuals knowingly take drugs with significant risks, which is akin to drug abuse!
Kanda reminds us: Regardless of the medication, it must be taken as directed by a doctor. Even for simple cold medicine, it’s essential to read the instructions carefully before taking it. As for certain over-the-counter medications, psychoactive drugs, and strictly controlled substances, they must be taken under a doctor’s guidance. Avoid self-medication at all costs.
There’s a saying, “Every medicine has its pros and cons,” improper use of medication could lead to adverse reactions in the body. Especially when medications contain addictive components, there could be dependency issues and even trigger mental disorders. It’s worth noting that many drugs are classified as narcotics and psychoactive substances. Using these medications without following a doctor’s prescription is equivalent to engaging in illegal drug use, posing serious threats not only to personal health but also to work and daily life.
