In general, “prescription drugs” refers to any class of drugs that can be prescribed by a licensed medical doctor, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant. In our experience and practice, however, when friends and family members tell us their loved one is suffering from prescription drug addiction, we typically find those people are dependent on one of two classes of drugs that are most often abused, namely, opioid pain medications and benzodiazepines.
Regardless of the class of prescription drugs in question, prescription drug and opioid addiction treatment maintains the same goals: physical stabilization, behavioral therapy to help overcome the underlying mental causes of addiction and transitioning out of treatment back into a life free from prescription drug abuse.
Prescription drugs medications are used to treat severe pain and mental health disorders. Prescription stimulants are helpful to treat (ADHD) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. The most used prescription drugs are depressants, stimulants and opioids. The impact of the drug on the nervous system makes the body release natural chemicals, like dopamine, to make someone more alert, happy and euphoric.
All drugs work by changing the way the brain works and the way nerve cells communicate. Nerve cells, called neurons, relay messages to one another by releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters attach to molecules on neurons called receptors, resulting in feelings of euphoria. Once the drug use stops, it is common for these changes to go away resulting in withdrawal symptoms.
Opioid pain medications and prescription drugs are prescribed by medical professionals for a wide variety of reasons in America. The danger with opioid pain medications is that many of them are very addictive, prevalent, and easy for people to acquire legally and illegally. Common opioid pain medications of abuse include, but are not limited to:
When you arrive in southern California, you will be evaluated by a doctor to determine whether your condition is appropriate for clinical drug detox. While at Inland Detox, when detoxing from drugs you will go through a process called stabilization; Medical detox programs entail going through the withdrawal process in a comfortable, quiet setting. Once your condition is stable, you will be referred for further treatment, generally in an inpatient residential setting.
The reason why so many people seek detox and treatment for prescription pain medications (opioids) is that they are not only highly addictive, but the withdrawal symptoms from them are severe and very much like withdrawals from heroin. During the withdrawal phase, opioid pain medication addicts will experience sweating, chills, mood swings, runny nose, flu-like symptoms, leg cramps and muscle aches, nausea and a host of other terrible symptoms. It is the severe withdrawal symptoms themselves that make many people addicted to this class of medication seek residential detox treatment before prescription drug rehab and for good reason.
Detoxing from benzodiazepines is dangerous and, if unsupervised or attempted “cold-turkey” can prove fatal. Benzodiazepines are tranquilizers prescribed by medical professionals for the treatment of anxiety disorders, severe alcohol withdrawal, bipolar disorder, insomnia, some forms of muscle tension and to reduce the occurrence and limit the symptoms of seizures in clients. Central nervous system (CNS) depressants treat anxiety, panic, and sleep disorders
In our modern era, more and more people are being prescribed benzodiazepines for co-occurring disorders such as anxiety and insomnia and the result is that many are becoming physically and psychologically dependent on them. Taking prescription drugs causes effects that are relaxing, and benzodiazepines are widely available on the black market and sell for high dollar value making criminal activity a closely related behavior to the long-term abuse of this class of drugs. Symptoms are severe and it’s no wonder people will resort to acquiring these drugs illegally.
When excessive or chronic alcohol use leads to significant physical dependence, people may experience withdrawal symptoms when he or she decides to quit drinking. Alcohol detox can be deadly if proper addiction treatment is not done. As a part of this process, prescription medications may be given at the onset of symptoms and continued until they subside.
Prescription drug withdrawal symptoms include, but are not limited to: sweating, anxiety, sleeplessness, irritability, headache, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, shakes, mood swings, seizures, hallucinations and symptoms that may appear as though they are more severe withdrawal symptoms that include psychiatric reactions such as psychosis.
It is common for people to mistake alcohol withdrawal symptoms, such as Delirium Tremens (DTs), for symptoms of withdrawal from sedative prescription drugs.
Due to the severity of the withdrawal symptoms, it is best to seek out a medically supervised detox program before attempting to stop using or seeking prescription drug rehab, as the dangerous side effects are too dangerous to be reasonably and safely managed on your own.
Common benzodiazepines of abuse include, but are not limited to:
In some cases, it may be necessary to seek immediate medical attention due to the severity of the withdrawal process. Addiction treatment with medical supervision will provide the safest and most comfortable drug withdrawal.
If you or someone you know is experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms immediately contact a doctor or mental health professional.
Prescription drug addiction occurs when someone starts to misuse prescription drugs and uses them in a way other than prescribed and/or for an extended period. Prescription drug and opioid dependence may happen after prolonged use. When substance addiction happens, it may be necessary to seek out a treatment program that can offer behavioral therapy and assistance in moving towards recovery.
Someone suffering from prescription drug abuse may need medical supervision at an addiction treatment center detox program to manage the withdrawal symptoms associated with prescription drug use. A treatment team may use certain medications during substance abuse treatment to manage the symptoms of drug detox.
Suboxone treatment may be used to treat opioid substance abuse and drug detox. Suboxone is a combination medication containing both buprenorphine and naloxone. While there are still stigmas surrounding medically assisted treatment (MAT), it is important to keep in mind that MAT can lower the risk of fatal overdoses by about 50%.
Clearly, prescription drug addiction treatment is complex and opioid pain medications and benzodiazepines are not the only classes of drugs within the wide spectrum of prescription medication abuse and addiction. Through our thorough substance abuse treatment program at our inpatient detox program, we treat the mental and physical health in the clients we see.
While not everyone who goes through detoxification needs medications to feel comfortable, there are some people who feel as though the detox process from prescription painkillers is simply too hard to complete, unless they have relief from medications. Often, people with addictions to prescription drug painkillers like Vicodin and OxyContin fall into this medication-needing group.
Inland Detox is a leading drug and alcohol rehab substance abuse treatment center located in Temecula, CA. Our addiction mental health staff can treat the physical symptoms and mental health symptoms associated with substance abuse. Often, when someone struggles with prescription drug abuse, there are other underlying mental illnesses that needed to be treated at the same time.
Our substance use disorder treatment staff can treat the mental and physical dependence that occurs with addiction. Often there are other health concerns such as mental illness or a mental health disorder that need to be included in a treatment plan. It is important for drug and alcohol treatment facilities and detox programs to address all underlying health conditions that coincide with the substance use disorder.
Inland Detox is prepared to treat most all forms of prescription medication, including addiction in a safe, secluded, and upscale environment. Our primary goals are accurate, high-quality client assessment, reduction of unpleasant withdrawal symptoms and carefully coordinated exit planning. If you or someone you know is addicted to prescription medication, would like more information about our detox program, and are seeking addiction treatment call our treatment team at (888) 739-8296 today.
35200 Linda Rosea Rd, Temecula, CA 92592
Local: 951-327-0216
Toll-Free: 888-739-8296
Email:[email protected]
