Prescription Drug Treatment
Prescription drugs were designed to help people get well, but unfortunately they have become the tool that millions of people use to abuse their bodies and destroy their lives. Prescription drug addiction is a growing problem, especially among the young, who have access to these medications both online and in their parent's medicine cabinet.
Now more than ever, it is crucial that those who become addicted to prescription drugs have ready access to proper treatment for their addiction.
The most commonly abused prescription drugs
Individuals use a variety of medications to get high. But several prescription meds stand out in terms of usage and the potential for addiction.
Hydrocodone - Most commonly known by its brand name, Vicodin, the prescription strength painkiller also produces opiate effects. The drug is highly addictive and can turn people from all walks of life into criminals who will lie, cheat and steal to get their pills.
OxyContin - A new player on the prescription drug scene, OxyContin has generated headlines because of the overdoses that come from abusing the drug as well as subsequent law suits against the make that claim they did not do a good enough job warning the public about the potential dangers associated with it.
Treating Prescription Drug Addiction
When an individual becomes addicted to prescription drugs, it changes the way their brain functions. The meds actually trick the brain into believing that the body cannot exist with the drug. Therefore, when an individual stops taking prescription meds, their body has "forgotten" how to function properly. This is why those coming down of drugs experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
Prescription drug treatment begins with detox from the opiates in the body - a kind of cleaning out process. Treatment also provides a safe place to experience withdrawal symptoms - during which time, the individual is likely to relapse and requires the support.
Beyond detox, prescription drug treatment becomes a matter of retraining the individual to live their lives without the meds. This involves group and individual counseling sessions where the root causes of the addiction are addressed, and a plan of action is created moving forward. For many people, treatment is the first time they have ever spoken openly about their addiction, and be able to talk to a trusted, caring professional moves them forward in previously unimaginable ways.
The final step of treatment involves after-care, and shaping a day-to-day life without prescription drugs. After-care takes on many forms, but includes return visits to the treatment program for counseling, residing in a sober living home and Narcotics Anonymous programs. All these exercises serve to help the individual ease back into a normal life, and provide the support structure need to insure than relapse will not occur.
At the Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers, we specialize in helping people overcome prescription drug addiction. Our unique, non-confrontational methods help those with an addiction achieve mental, physical and spiritual well-being, all leading to an existence that is free of the bonds of addiction.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, contact the Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers today for more information.
