One of the functions of the research that goes into developing drug addiction treatment facilities is to categorize and study the biological effects of specific drugs that are commonly abused. There are widely recognized categories for substances and these fall into legal prescription drugs and illegal street drugs. And while there is an obvious social distinction in orientation to the nature of the addict that uses each of these categories, researchers are discovering a remarkable similarity in the effects and consequences they have on users. One thing, however, remains clearly distinct. Prescription drugs are controlled and their content is regulated, and while users may believe that their street drug is consistent, there is nothing to guarantee that it is, how it is made, or what all it contains. And this is one of the non negotiable dangerous aspects of street drug addiction, though it is not intended to encourage prescription drug abuse. Some of the standard street drugs that lead to addiction are methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and others like them.

After that basic and more broad categorization occurs there are further levels of chemical addiction distinction labeling. The prescription drugs are generally categorized according to whether they are narcotic in orientation and intended to provide pain relief, or if they are psychotropic and mood enhancing drugs. Some of the common prescribed pain relief medicines include Tylenol with codeine, Oxycodone and Percocet as well as their generics. There are many others, these are just a few of the commonly prescribed options.

Other prescribed medications that are commonly abused and can lead to addiction are of the psychotropic variety. This includes the family of drugs known as benzodiazepines . Some of the more recognized and widely used drugs in this family include Valium, Xanax and Ativan, which are the trademark names and there are generics of these drugs available. They all have a high chance for abuse and addiction and people who have a history of substance abuse and addictive behaviors should be very careful before starting to use them or even avoid them all together. This is a standard topic of use for quality doctors and prescription providers. This is a general description of the types of drugs that are commonly abused and can lead to addiction and they are a fundamental aspect of approaches to treatment in drug rehab centers .