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When the Bottle Has Your Name on It: Can a Prescription Hide a Developing Addiction

by Stuart Morse | Sep 15, 2026 | Recovery Science | 0 comments

Prescription medications can relieve pain, calm anxiety, improve concentration, and restore normal functioning. But what happens when the relief itself becomes something we begin to crave? Using Johnny Cash’s experience with prescription stimulants and sedatives as a starting point, this article explores how legitimate medical use can sometimes drift into misuse—and why having your name on the bottle doesn’t necessarily protect you from developing a problem. It examines the brain’s reward system, the warning signs that prescribed use may be crossing a line, and why recognizing that change is needed can be an important first step toward recovery. Read the full article at Emergent Horizons.

Written by Stuart Morse

Stuart Morse is a recovery coach and author of The Science and Spirituality of Addiction, and the founder of Emergent Horizons in Victoria, BC. He is trained through Still Here (Recovery Coach Foundations, Essentials, and Mastery) and a member of Recovery Coaches Canada. Read more about Stuart, or connect on socials (links in page footer.)

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