Common Substances Abused By Executives

While most executives aren't necessarily on the street with a crack pipe or injecting heroin, it certainly happens more often then you might think. Well how does someone end up like that? Most people, whether professionals or otherwise, start out with something "not as bad" and then progress to a stronger version of that drug or simply more of it.

Prescription drugs are generally the most commonly abused controlled substances. This includes narcotic painkillers such as hydrocodone and oxycodone. Brand name examples are Vicodin, Lortab, OxyContin and Percocet.Another growing catogory of prescription drug abuse includes benzodiazepines (benzos) such as Xanax, Valium, Klonopin and Ativan. These are sedatives that have a very high potential for abuse that are unfortunately often carelessly prescribed to executives by doctors.

Alcohol is of course the most abused substance in America. It's social acceptability and availability make it seem less dangerous, but alcohol claims more lives than all of the others combined. Believe it or not, someone doesn't have to be an all-day drinker to have an alcohol probelm that needs to be helped. Sometimes it may be only a moderate amount every day or periods of heavy drinking spread out. It could be wine, beer or liquor.

Somtimes the pressure to perform at work and function with very little sleep will lead an executive to some type of stimulant. This could include a prescription stimulant like Ritalin and Adderall, methamphetamine or cocaine. All three are very powerfully addictive stimulants that have a high abuse potential and toxic level.

There may be a wide variety of drugs that are abused in this day in age. With the massive onslaught of prescription drugs continually hitting the market and the false credo of taking a pill for every ill, there are many substances that can get someone caught in the trap of addiction.