PRESCRIPTION DRUGS REHAB

Prescription drug addiction develops when a prescription medication is misused without adherence to the guidelines given by the prescribing physician or medical practitioner. As a prescription drugs rehab, we’ve seen how it can destroy lives. 

Abusing a prescription drug triggers a series of complications, depending on how the medication is abused. For instance, some people consume more than the prescribed dosage to gain relief from a painkiller or use the painkillers prescribed to someone else.

It’s also common for people to misuse prescription medication by ground-up the pills and snorting or injecting them into the bloodstream. 

People misuse opioids, benzodiazepines, and other prescription drugs to induce a state of euphoria or calmness, otherwise known as “getting high.” 

Abusing prescription drugs sets the stage for prescription addiction because these medications are highly addictive, triggering a compulsive pattern with far-reaching health implications.

It’s pertinent to note that prescription addiction is common across all age groups, from adolescents to seniors. The most commonly abused prescription drugs include anxiety medications, opioid pain-relief drugs, sedatives, and brain stimulants. 

People also abuse central nervous system (CNS) depressants and benzodiazepines to misuse their tranquilizing effects to induce a high state.

Xanax, medically termed alprazolam, is a popularly misused anti-anxiety drug. In recent years, the misuse and abuse of stimulating amphetamines like Adderall and Ritalin have alarmed researchers and medical practitioners. 

High school and college students abuse Adderall, prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), to improve their academic performance.  

Amongst opioids, codeine, fentanyl, and oxycodone are the most widely misused prescription drugs. Do you suspect a loved one of misusing or abusing fentanyl? 

Experts believe early detection and timely interventions are crucial to prevent misuse from becoming a full-blown prescription addiction. We suggest finding a reputable facility to stage an intervention with a comprehensive fentanyl addiction treatment without delay.

Timely treatment at a prescription drugs rehab can help you from falling into a compulsive pattern of physical dependency and relapsing. 

Opioids, anti-anxiety medications, and stimulants slow down breathing patterns and heart rate alarmingly, to the extent that breathing stops altogether, inducing a state of coma or eventual death. Anti-anxiety medications and tranquilizers are commonly linked to memory loss, slowed breathing, and dangerously low blood pressure.

Patients who misuse these medications cannot stop abruptly as it can trigger lethal withdrawal symptoms, like seizures, hallucinations, and brain hyperactivity. Stimulants increase body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure levels, heightening the risk for seizures, paranoia, hallucinations, and aggressive behavior.

A prescription addiction alters the patient’s behavior and attitude toward relationships, responsibilities, and life. The obsession or compulsion to consume prescription drugs takes center stage in their priorities while everything else is neglected.

Patients diagnosed with or suspected of prescription drug abuse experience bad mood swings, and quitting, or delays in consumption make them irritable. They begin neglecting their domestic and professional responsibilities, be it studying or work.

Common behavioral manifestations of prescription drug abuse include:

• Frequent visits to the restroom

• Anxiously requesting early refills for their prescription drugs

• Visiting multiple physicians or doctors to renew their prescription

• Finding illegal means to source prescription drugs without consulting a doctor

• Going outside at odd hours of the night

• Changes in regular routines and work schedules

All drug-related addictions or substance use complications make patients isolated and alone. This social isolation is mainly triggered by mood swings, heightened irritability, and a tendency to lash out at family, friends, and loved ones. Prescription addictions trigger a pattern of denial and anger, which is catastrophic for romantic relations.

Prescription addictions latch onto the mind and body by creating a physical dependence that sustains the addiction by compelling the patient to continue using. This physical dependence occurs because these prescription drugs, especially opioids and sedatives, activate the reward center within the brain. Quitting abruptly is strongly ill-advised, and patients must undergo a comprehensive prescription addiction treatment.

After long-term misuse of prescription drugs, the body may need a medically-assisted detoxification process to overcome its tolerance and dependence on the drug. The body adjusts to obtaining regular drug doses, and failure to provide this dose can trigger debilitating withdrawal symptoms. Addiction specialists manage these withdrawal symptoms with a controlled detoxification process.

Once the detox is completed, patients can explore various therapies to treat the addiction. The most common and effective treatments include the 12-Step Facilitation Program, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), and Contingency Management.

Clinicians and addiction specialists typically combine many different forms of therapy treatments so that patients overcome physical dependence and transform their mindsets to adopt healthy lifestyles.

Establishing the foundation for long-term recovery takes roughly 30-90 days. The more time, the better because it gives time to eliminate the drug’s effect on your body and mind.

However, the journey and severity of the addiction are different for everyone. A specific period can only be advised by a certified doctor who knows the details of your case.

Addiction can either stem from or cause mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. These disorders are treated along with addiction in rehab. Co-occurring disorders are quite common in those who experience addiction. Any reputable treatment center will monitor and treat both. Learn more about how we treat co-occurring disorders. 

Yes! A study conducted within 9 months of patient discharge showed that many individuals who attend rehab maintain their sobriety.

Prescription drugs tend to create tolerance in an individual’s body, leading to the patient taking higher doses. Increased prescription drug usage often leads to heavy dependence, addiction, or overdose. In the future, it can lead to fentanyl and/or heroin use which is proven to cause fatal overdoses.