Just because the doctor says it’s okay, doesn’t mean it’s fine. One of the leading causes of the opioid epidemic is prescription drug abuse. ¹ Varying medications can lead to addictive behaviors and drug dependency. As a result, when a prescription runs out, many turn to the streets.

Whether it be for chronic pain or a mental health condition, the United States has never had such a high percentage of prescriptions. Though Americans only make up 5% of the world’s population, we use nearly 80% of all prescription opioid drugs available, for both medical and nonmedical needs.

This crisis has largely been justified by people in need of medication. However, the purpose of this blog is to discuss that you don’t always need a prescription to ease symptoms of various conditions.

An Evolving Crisis

There’s no denying America’s opioid crisis has reached unprecedented proportions. It’s estimated more than 130 people die from an opioid overdose within the United States every day. ² On top of that, prescription opioid misuse alone costs the country over $78 billion a year. This money goes towards the following: ³

• Addiction treatment
• Criminal justice involvement
• Healthcare
• Lack of productivity

This crisis started in the 1990s. Pharmaceutical companies promised the medical community that prescription opioid pain relievers weren’t addictive. In turn, healthcare providers started supplying them to the public at a greater rate. Since these medications were highly addictive, widespread recreational and embezzlement of prescription opioids naturally spread. ⁴

The same is true for the prescription of mental health medication. On top of this, mental illness has also been on the rise in America. ⁵ If this trend continues, prescription abuse will inevitably too.

The unfortunate truth is mental illness prescription is only meant for short term use. For example, someone with anxiety should only receive Xanax for upwards of a few months. Yet, many people will continue to report anxiety symptoms to get more Xanax. Or, if a doctor refuses more medication, they’ll go to another doctor for a prescription. A habit that’s known as “doctor shopping.” ⁶

Statistics

Since the 1990s, opioids have taken more lives and ruined more families in America compared to any time in history. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports:

• Since the turn of the century, nearly half a million Americans have died due to opioids.
• Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, most opioid deaths were a result of prescription medication.
• In 2010, a high increase in heroin overdoses began to occur.
• In 2013, a high increase in synthetic opioids (such as fentanyl) began to occur.

Overdose rates are increasing primarily with synthetic opioids. ⁷ This is due to their wide availability, cheap price, and powerful high. On top of this, many doctors now prescribe synthetic opioids. According to the CDC:

• Synthetic opioids resulted in over 28,000 deaths in 2017 alone.
• Many of those deaths occurred in males between the ages of 25 and 44.

Luckily, there have been actions to reduce prescription rates. Since 2010, prescribing rates for opioids have reduced by nearly 20%. Furthermore, the high-dosage rate has also dropped by about 5%.

The Future of Addictive Medication

The good news is overall deaths due to prescription opioids have dropped alongside prescription rates. At the peak of this crisis, 6.1 of every 100,000 men were dying to the medication handed to them by their doctors. In 2017, that number was reduced to 4.2.

Yet, overdoses as a whole continue to increase, namely from the growing illicit opioid market. ⁸ And let’s not forget that this market established itself due to prescription rates.

There also remains an alarm for people who might not come across as victims of this epidemic. In those ages 65 and older, there’s been a significant increase in prescription opioid deaths. Part of the reason may have to do with the fact that depression rates are rising amongst senior citizens. ⁹

This fight goes beyond mere drugs themselves. Many don’t just turn to opioids for pain. They may also feel it takes the edge off mental and emotional conflicts.

Mental Illness and Addiction

As the National Bureau of Economic Research puts it, there is “a definite connection between mental illness and the use of addictive substances.” In fact, people diagnosed with a mental disorder are reported to consume:

• 38% of alcohol
• 40% of cigarettes
• 44% of cocaine

The Bureau also reports that people diagnosed with a mental illness had consumed addictive substances at some point in their lives in the following rates:

• 69% of alcohol
• 68% of cigarettes
• 84% of cocaine

So, why is there a trend between mental illness and substance abuse? The most common answer is people use drugs and alcohol to self-medicate from their condition. ¹⁰

There are several reasons someone would decide to self-medicate instead of seeing a doctor. For example, due to the stigma of mental health, someone may not want those around them to know of their condition.

Still, some have simply become wary of pharmaceuticals period. Therefore, they’ve turned to other measures to treat mental illness.

Natural Supplements

So, what can people struggling with a mental disorder do to alleviate their symptoms? Luckily, there are several options.

To begin, we can look at the variety of natural supplements already suggested by mental health professionals. Admittedly, you could write a whole book on these supplements and their versatile uses for different mental disorders.

To stay concise, here are the most common supplements for a few conditions. We encourage you to do further research to learn more about the effects of each of these.

• Anxiety – Ashwagandha, Chamomile, Kava Kava, Lavender, Lemon Balm Passionflower, Rhodiola Rosea, Valerian Root

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): High-Protein Foods/Drinks, Iron, Magnesium, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin C, Zinc

• Bipolar Disorder: Choline, Inositol, N-Acetylcysteine, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Rhodiola Rosea, S-Adenosylmethionine, St. John’s Wort

• Depression: 5-HTP, Chamomile, Ginseng, Lavender, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Saffron, S-Adenosylmethionine, St. John’s Wort

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): 5-HTP, Inositol, Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum), N-Acetylcysteine, St. John’s Wort

• Post-Traumatic-Stress Disorder (PTSD): Inositol, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Lavender, St. John’s Wort

• Schizophrenia: B-Vitamins, Choline, D-Alanine, D-Serine, Melatonin, N-Acetylcysteine, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Sarcosine

Substance Abuse Disorder: Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Citicoline, Glutathione, Magnesium, N-Acetylcysteine, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Theanine, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Zinc

Habits for a Healthier Life

Besides natural supplements, there are other ways to ease mental health symptoms. These include:

Create

It’s been proven that people who take time to be creative are rewarded with a sense of satisfaction. Especially when this creation involves your hands. Activities such as painting or knitting cause your brain and body to connect beneficially to your mental health. ¹¹

Exercise

Exercise (and physical activity) releases endorphins. These natural hormones positively affect brain functions, including pain management. ¹² It also releases dopamine, which can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. ¹³

Eating Well

What we eat has a lot to do with how we feel. In fact, our diets are directly attached to our mental health thanks to the gut-brain axis. In simple terms, chemical messages are sent to your brain based on what’s in your stomach. ¹⁴ The better your diet, the better your brain (and body) feel after eating.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

A lack of proper sleep harms your brain and body in several ways, including increases in: ¹⁵

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Heart Disease
• Stress
• Weight

Better sleep starts by making it a priority. If you have trouble getting to bed at night, you may want to find a natural remedy to help this complication.

Get Outside

If you’re going to exercise, you might as well do it outside. By surrounding yourself with nature, serotonin organically boosts in your brain. This naturally has a calming effect that’s been found to be beneficial for mental health. ¹⁶

Meditation

There are so many forms of meditation that you have a lot of opportunities to experiment. However, even sitting upright and taking deep breaths for five minutes could do wonders for your mental health. ¹⁷ Next time you feel your mind racing, take a moment to relax and restabilize yourself.

Therapy

If you’ve ever received treatment for your mental health condition, then you’re aware of the importance of psychotherapy (or talk therapy). This counseling is to help you better understand your emotions and patterns. In turn, your comprehension will help you better develop coping mechanisms. ¹⁸

References

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² Schreyer KE, Malik S, Blome A, D’Orazio JL. A Case Report of a Novel Harm Reduction Intervention Used to Detect Opioid Overdose in the Emergency Department. Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2020 Nov;4(4):548-550. doi: 10.5811/cpcem.2020.7.47936. PMID: 33217269; PMCID: PMC7676791.

³ Florence CS, Zhou C, Luo F, Xu L. The Economic Burden of Prescription Opioid Overdose, Abuse, and Dependence in the United States, 2013. Med Care. 2016 Oct;54(10):901-6. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000000625. PMID: 27623005; PMCID: PMC5975355.

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⁶ Soeiro T, Lacroix C, Pradel V, Lapeyre-Mestre M, Micallef J. Early Detection of Prescription Drug Abuse Using Doctor Shopping Monitoring From Claims Databases: Illustration From the Experience of the French Addictovigilance Network. Front Psychiatry. 2021 May 17;12:640120. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.640120. PMID: 34079478; PMCID: PMC8165176.

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¹¹ Zhao R, Tang Z, Lu F, Xing Q, Shen W. An Updated Evaluation of the Dichotomous Link Between Creativity and Mental Health. Front Psychiatry. 2022 Jan 17;12:781961. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.781961. PMID: 35111087; PMCID: PMC8802834.

¹² Sprouse-Blum AS, Smith G, Sugai D, Parsa FD. Understanding endorphins and their importance in pain management. Hawaii Med J. 2010 Mar;69(3):70-1. PMID: 20397507; PMCID: PMC3104618.

¹³ Craft LL, Perna FM. The Benefits of Exercise for the Clinically Depressed. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry. 2004;6(3):104-111. doi: 10.4088/pcc.v06n0301. PMID: 15361924; PMCID: PMC474733.

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