Prescription Drug Abuse Treatment Programs

It is a common practice for doctors to prescribe pharmaceutical drugs to their patients; however, it is not uncommon for patients to become addicted to these drugs. Prescription drug abuse treatment programs are increasing in popularity because many pharmaceutical drugs contain addictive substances. For example, many prescription pain killers are narcotics, which derive from the opium poppy plant. Because opium is very addictive, any chemical drug that contains it has the potential to be highly addictive as well. Prescription drugs are extremely powerful, and it is possible for individuals to get hooked on them very quickly. A great deal of individuals have become addicted to or dependent on prescription drugs, and their addictions are either physical, psychological, or both.

Prescription Drug Withdrawal

Those who need assistance detoxifying from pharmaceutical substances often experience the same or very similar symptoms as those who are detoxifying from illegal substances, such as crack, heroin, and cocaine. Once the body gets used to consuming a particular substance, symptoms of withdrawal will become present once the individuals stops consuming that substance. This is the primary reason why prescription drug abuse treatment programs are so beneficial. Individuals who have become addicted to drugs need medical and psychological support from knowledgeable, caring substance abuse professionals to increase their chances of overcoming their addictions. If you or a loved one needs prescription drug addiction treatment, call our free helpline at (800) 660-0986, or fill out the quick contact form on this page.

Treatment for individuals who have become addicted to prescription drugs include detoxification, psychological counseling, the use of supportive medicines to make the detoxification period more tolerable, and access to ongoing treatments, such as support groups and individual counseling. Doctors who perform psychological counseling generally try to determine the underlying cause of each patient’s addiction. When patients are able to identify the possible causes of their addictions, they can start the process of healing from the psychological issues that have contributed to their substance abuse.

Not all individuals who are addicted to prescription drugs take them for medical reasons. According to MedlinePlus, 20 percent of individuals in the United States have used prescription drugs recreationally. Because these drugs are easy to access, individuals not only take them casually, they also sell them to others for a profit. As the general population’s health problems continue to increase, doctors will continue to prescribe drugs, and individuals will continuously become addicted to them. Painkillers are among the most common drugs that individuals become addicted to. Not only can they help to relieve moderate to severe pain, they provide individuals with a feeling of euphoria. This euphoric feeling generally lasts between 20 and 30 minutes, and many individuals either take more prescription drugs to maintain their high, or they use other recreational drugs and alcohol to enhance their euphoria. If you or a loved one needs help to overcome an addiction to prescription drugs, fill out a quick contact form, or contact our free national referral service at (800) 660-0986.

What Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment Does

Prescription drug treatment programs use both behavioral and pharmacological treatments in order to help individuals overcome their addictions. Behavioral treatments include teaching strategies that can help patients to function without the drug. These treatments also help patients to deal with strong cravings and gives specific strategies on avoiding situations that may cause a relapse to occur. There is also special counseling available to those who have relapsed and need more intense behavioral help. Pharmacological treatments often involve weaning the patients off of the drug slowly. This is done by giving patients small doses of the addictive substance during the detoxification process, which causes the body to detoxify more slowly and drastically reduces the intensity of the detoxification symptoms. The type of treatment that will work best for you depends on your level of addiction and the type of drug that you are addicted to.

If you are looking for a prescription drug abuse treatment program for yourself, a family member or a friend, call our helpline toll free at (800) 660-0986, or fill out our quick contact form in order to obtain help and support.