How Prescription Drug Addiction Starts

Each type of prescription drug produces different effects and side effects. For the most part, the people who take prescription drugs recreationally are either looking to get high or they have become dependent on the drugs while on their prescription. Some people, especially students, may take stimulants to help them in class or in sports. Remember however, taking prescription drugs for any reason besides to treat specific symptoms as their doctor prescribed, can lead to prescription drug addiction and abuse.

Here are the more common side effects of prescription drugs:

Common side effects of opioids:

Common side effects of depressants:

Common side effects of stimulants:

While the side effects may be different, the prescription drug addiction symptoms are quite similar, and include:

• Doctor shopping — obtaining multiple prescriptions from different doctors to obtain more opioids or depressants
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not taking prescription medications
• An increased reliance on prescription medications in order to get through everyday life
• Switching from one prescription medication to an illegal substance, such as going from oxycodone to heroin
• Combining different types of prescription drugs, such as mixing alcohol and Valium
• Depression
• Aggressive behavior
• Episodes of psychosis (especially with stimulants)
• Abuse of other prescription drugs or illegal drugs
• Permanent mental impairments
• Compulsively seeking out the drug (i.e., addiction), often at the expense of everything else

If a person is addicted to prescription drugs, prescription drug addiction treatment is crucial. Addiction can take over someone’s life, and is fatal in the long run if it isn’t treatment. There is also the danger of overdose, especially with depressants, which can slow breathing so much that a person may stop breathing.

If a person goes through withdrawal too, the symptoms of that can be deadly, if they aren’t treated by a medical professional.

Treatment For Prescription Drug Abuse and Addiction

Prescription drug addiction treatment can vary based on type of prescription drugs a person is addicted to.  In most cases though, a prescription drug rehab is one of the best places to start prescription drug addiction recovery. While a person’s treatment plan may vary, generally, they would go through detox and then therapy.

Detox is the process by which a person stops using prescription drugs and their body goes through the stages of ridding itself of the substance. Detox should be done under supervision by a medical profession and their team to monitor the patient’s withdrawal symptoms which can range from mild or flu-like to dangerous or even life-threatening. Medical supervision and treatment can help someone get through the worst of their symptoms, and treat any issues that come up.

Once detox is finished, the next step in treatment is therapy. Whether it’s individual therapy or group therapy, this is often the most crucial step of prescription drug addiction treatment. A person must learn how to live without drugs, and gain the skills they need to understand how their addiction works and how to keep themselves clean. Therapy can also address why a person may have started using prescription drugs in the first place, as well, so people can learn their triggers or how to combat certain emotions that might lead them to pick up drugs again.

Once they finished their initial treatment, recovery continues with supportive programs, such as 12-step meetings or classes.

If you or a loved one are struggling with prescription drug addiction and need help, you are not alone. Sovereign Health of El Paso, Texas, offers the latest cutting-edge treatment methods and world-class care at our prescription drug rehab that can get anyway on the road to recovery. Find out more about our services by calling our 24/7 helpline.