OxyContin, Vicodin, and Adderall are just some of the many habit-forming prescription drugs. Even as physicians are aware of the dangers, they continue to order them for patients. Not surprisingly, America’s prescription drug addiction problem is transforming into an epidemic. If you’re one of the individuals who struggle with a prescription drug problem, there’s help.
Terming it Epidemic is Not Hyperbole
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that one in four patients on prescription opioids suffer from an addiction. On a daily basis, more than 1,000 individuals seek medical help at emergency rooms for prescription painkiller misuse. Adding insult to injury, developing a prescription drug addiction is surprisingly easy. All it takes is an innate predisposition to addiction and the desire to take the medication as prescribed.
For example, did you know that becoming dependent on these drugs happens in due course of taking them? The body accustoms itself to the regular influx of the chemicals that suppress pain signals and support dopamine release. Gradually increasing the dose ensures that you get the same result from the painkillers you experienced in the beginning. From there, it’s a short trip to the downward spiral of addiction.
Understanding the Risks of Addiction
Since prescription drugs come from a pharmacy and require a physician’s script, people frequently think they’re safe. When they learn about the painkiller abuse statistics, they believe that addiction happens to someone else. They don’t recognize the danger until they’re in the vicious cycle of a prescription drug addiction themselves.
The same is true not just for painkillers but also for an Adderall addiction. Because children as young as seven years of age take it, it must be safe. But that’s wrong. It’s easy to abuse a substance that promises cognitive boosts and increased energy.
Rehab Programs can Treat a Prescription Drug Addiction Successfully
If you or a loved one have fallen victim to any prescription drug addiction, there’s help. It starts with a detox program at a facility that offers medical supervision. This setup ensures the physical safety of people struggling with addiction who withdraw from drugs. It also prepares them for the seamless transition to a rehab facility.
Once they finish the detox phase, individuals continue their journeys to recovery with customized programs.
- Partial hospitalization program. In the clinical setting, you’ll see the abbreviation PHP. You or a loved one live at home but undergo treatment at the facility seven days a week. At that time, attendees participate in individual, family, and group therapy settings. A supportive home environment is a fundamental component of success.
- Intensive outpatient program. After a couple of weeks, you move to an intensive outpatient program or IOP. The goal of the two or so weeks you spend in this setting is the preparation for independent daily living. Relapse prevention techniques, continuing treatment of co-occurring disorders, and 12-step program implementation become the focus.
- Outpatient rehab. Next, you participate in outpatient rehab. People working on their sobriety do so while going about their daily lives. This includes job or school attendance, family involvement, parenting, and similar tasks. You still have the safety net of facility-led meetings and support groups.
Making a Lasting Life Change Today
Because of the widespread prescription drug addiction epidemic, getting help now is more important than ever. If you’re a victim of prescription drug addiction, or if your loved one struggles with an addiction, make a change today. At Steps to Recovery, expert therapists put you first and help you overcome a pill addiction. Call 866-488.8684 for immediate help.
