Prescription Drug Addiction

People of all ages use prescription drugs. Generally, doctors prescribe them to treat a specific medical condition. However, some people end up becoming addicted to these drugs. Prescription drug addiction is a serious problem in the United States. This creates a need for prescription drug rehab centers that offer specialized treatment.

While prescription drugs treat a number of conditions, they can also be habit-forming. Prescription drug addiction often starts with people taking these medications for legitimate reasons. However, over time, they may start to abuse them. Concerningly, prescription drug addiction can lead to serious health problems, including overdose and death.

Why Do People Abuse Prescription Drugs?

There are many reasons why people abuse and become addicted to prescription drugs. There are times when an individual may begin to misuse their prescribed medication. This can happen for a number of reasons. For example, as tolerance builds, the individual may take more of the medication to feel its effects.

For some people, it may start with taking a friend’s or family member’s medication. Others may start taking drugs to cope with a difficult life event, such as the death of a loved one. Some people may even abuse prescription drugs because they are curious about what it feels like.

Other reasons a person may be abusing prescription drugs include the following:

  • As a result of peer pressure, to fit in with a certain group of friends
  • Cope with stress
  • Relieve boredom
  • Feel more alert or awake, or to increase energy levels
  • To lose weight

Regardless of how it starts, prescription drug abuse is a serious problem that can have harmful consequences. Recreational prescription drug use can easily spiral into prescription drug addiction.

The Most Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs

There are many different types of prescription medications. Therefore, there are a number of different types of prescription drugs that people can become addicted to. Some of the most commonly abused prescription drugs include the following prescription medications.

Barbiturates

The drugs known as barbiturates are used for a variety of purposes. They are commonly used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Barbiturates work by depressing the central nervous system. Further, they are often used as anesthesia or prescribed to treat seizures.
Taking these drugs for a prolonged period comes with a risk of dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Stopping the use of this medication abruptly is connected to fatal withdrawal symptoms such as seizures.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines (also known as benzos) are sedatives. These central nervous system (CNS) depressants treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Benzos work by depressing the central nervous system to promote feelings of relaxation. Unfortunately, after abusing these drugs for a period of time, the body will develop a physical addiction to them.

Stimulants

Stimulants are prescribed to treat a number of conditions including Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). These drugs work by increasing levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. Commonly abused stimulants include Ritalin, Adderall, and Dexedrine.

Abusing stimulants is accompanied by serious medical consequences. Individuals may experience dangerously high body temperature, heart issues, high blood pressure, seizures, tremors, hallucinations, aggressiveness, or even paranoia.

Opioids

Opioids are painkillers. This type of medication is used to treat moderate to severe pain. A popular prescription opioid is the drug oxycodone. Opioids work by binding to opioid receptors in the brain to decrease pain.

Unfortunately, these drugs cause a euphoric high that people find pleasurable. People who are addicted to opioids crush, snort, or inject them. This is highly concerning as opioids have deadly side effects such as respiratory depression and overdose.

Sleeping Pills

Sleeping pills aid people who have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. The most common sleeping pill is Ambien. People with sleeping pill addictions often take larger doses than what is prescribed, take the pills more often than they should, or take them without a prescription.

Evidence-based and quality treatment programs

Are you or someone you care about struggling with addiction to alcohol or other drugs? We’re here to help with a supportive team that understands what you’re going through. One phone call could change everything.

Treatment for Prescription Drug Addiction

While prescription drug addiction is a serious condition, prescription drug rehab centers can provide the care needed to help addicted individuals heal. Here at Achieve Wellness and Recovery, we offer a combination of clinical support, therapy, and resources that help our patients overcome this serious condition.

The levels of care at prescription drug rehab centers associated with prescription drug addiction treatment include the following:

Drug Detox

Detox can help to flush the drugs from your system and manage withdrawal symptoms. For some patients entering recovery, medical detox may be required.
Concerningly, many types of prescription drugs cause physical dependence. When an individual stops taking the drug, withdrawal can start to set in. Prescription drug withdrawal symptoms can be severe and uncomfortable, making it difficult to quit on your own.

Medical detox at a prescription drug rehab center can provide monitoring and care from a team of professionals who can help make the process as safe and comfortable as possible.

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient treatment is for those with more severe addiction. This level of care provides 24-hour supervision and support. While we do not offer inpatient treatment at Achieve Wellness and Recovery, we can refer you to a program.
Many people choose to continue their care in an outpatient treatment program after completing inpatient care. We offer various outpatient levels of care to those who are beginning or continuing their journey to full recovery.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment for prescription drugs is an excellent stand-alone program or step down from a more intensive form of care. It allows individuals to live at home and work or go to school while they receive help for their addiction.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

Outpatient programs provide recovery support in levels of care with traditional outpatient being the least intensive and partial care programs being the most intensive. In between these two programs is intensive outpatient, otherwise known as an IOP.

IOPs provide a happy medium for patients who need more care than what outpatient offers but are not yet ready for partial care or inpatient treatment. On the other hand, this program can also be a step down from higher levels of care.

Partial Care Program

Achieve Wellness and Recovery’s partial hospitalization program (PHP) is an outpatient program that helps people who are in need of high levels of structure and support, but who also wish to maintain their daily responsibilities.

Partial care programs offer intensive levels of care and support to those in early recovery. It can also benefit those who require more clinical support than an IOP or traditional outpatient program can offer.

While in treatment, individuals in partial care programs will typically participate in individual and group therapy sessions several times per week. They will also have access to other support services, such as case management, medical care, and psychiatric care.

Therapy for Prescription Drug Addiction

Mental health often plays a role in prescription drug addiction. Prescription drug rehab centers offer addiction therapies to mitigate the effects of the various risk factors associated with addiction. Therapy at Achieve Wellness and Recovery works to address the following contributors to substance abuse:

  • Stress from work
  • General life dissatisfaction
  • Unresolved past traumas
  • Lack of social support from family/friends/significant others

Some sufferers of prescription drug addiction may also face diagnosable conditions that affect their emotional, psychological, and social well-being. These include mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or other mood and personality disorders. In fact, up to 50% of individuals who suffer from a substance use disorder also have a co-occurring mental illness.

The combination of existing mental health issues and a substance use disorder can magnify the consequences of a prescription drug substance use disorder. This is why we offer a range of therapeutic interventions to help our patients heal emotionally, psychologically, and socially. Our therapy options include the following:

Group Therapy for Prescription Drug Abuse

Group therapy sessions are another important part of our prescription drug addiction treatment program. These sessions are led by a mental health professional, who will include tutorials on stress management, anger management, and relapse prevention.
Additionally, in group therapy, patients meet with other individuals who are also struggling with prescription drug addiction. This provides them with a supportive environment where they can openly share their experiences and receive feedback from others.

Individual Therapy for Prescription Drug Addiction

While in individual therapy, patients work with a therapist, receiving clinical support. We believe that this type of support is key in helping our patients overcome their prescription drug addiction.

Our individual therapy sessions are led by a mental health professional, who has expertise in treating prescription drug addiction. These sessions give patients the opportunity to process the emotions and behaviors associated with their prescription drug use.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Prescription Drug Abuse

Cognitive-behavioral therapy, otherwise known as CBT, is a type of psychotherapy. It is commonly used by prescription drug rehab centers to treat patients with prescription drug addiction.
CBT focuses on helping patients to identify and change the thoughts and behaviors that are contributing to their addiction. For example, a patient may learn how to better deal with stress or triggers that could lead to them abusing drugs.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Prescription Drug Abuse

Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Originally, it was specifically designed to treat patients with borderline personality disorder. However, research has shown that this type of therapy can also be effective in treating other conditions, such as prescription drug addiction.
DBT focuses on helping patients to develop skills to stop destructive behavior such as drug abuse. During sessions, a patient will work with a therapist to integrate behavior-changing techniques into their daily life.

Family Therapy for Prescription Drug Abuse

Depending on the individual, family therapy may be a part of your prescription drug addiction treatment program.

This type of therapy can help to improve communication and build trust within the family. For example, a patient who was stealing prescription medication from relatives may need to discuss this trespass in therapy. It can also provide support to everyone involved and help to identify any negative patterns that may be contributing to the addiction.

Ending Your Addiction at Our Prescription Drug Rehab Center

If you or someone close to you is addicted to prescription drugs, there is hope of a future free of drug abuse. Prescription drug rehab centers, like Achieve Wellness and Recovery, provide the care needed to overcome substance use disorders. To learn how we can help you, contact us today. Recovery is a call away.

We work with most insurance companies. Please note we are not affiliated with or endorsed by insurance companies.

No Medicaid Accepted.

Begin The Journey To Lasting Recovery