When abused, cyclobenzaprine may have a sedative and relaxing effect and potentially even cause a euphoric “high.” Flexeril may be abused orally, mixed with other drugs, easily dissolved in alcohol, or crushed to be snorted.
Flexeril may not be difficult to obtain as it is not classified by the DEA as a controlled substance.
Anytime someone is using a prescription drug without a prescription, or beyond the scope of a legitimate prescription, it is considered drug abuse. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) estimates that more than 50 million Americans aged 12 and over have abused a prescription drug one or more times in life. Prescription drugs may seem safer than illicit ones, making them targets for abuse. All drugs act on natural chemicals in the brain, however, and abusing them can lead to drug dependence and addiction.
Drug addiction cost American society close to $200 billion in 2007, in healthcare costs, legal and criminal justice expenses, and lost workplace production, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) reports. Substance abuse treatment can greatly improve some of the behavioral, social, emotional, physical, and financial issues that may arise as the result of drug abuse.
Treatment should be multifaceted and tailored to each individual. Physical drug dependence is often treated with medical detox, for example. The behavioral and emotional aspects of drug abuse and addiction are often treated with behavioral therapies and group and individual counseling sessions that work to improve coping mechanisms, communication skills, self-confidence, and mental health.