Prescription Drug Abuse and Treatment

While most patients use prescription medications as directed, abuse of prescription drugs can cause serious medical risks, such as addiction. The risk of addiction rises when the prescriptions are used in a manner other than prescribed by a health care professional.

This set of questions may help to assess your risk for prescription drug abuse:

Have you felt the need to cut down on your use of prescription drugs?
Have you ever felt annoyed by comments from friends or family about your use of prescription drugs?
Have you ever felt guilty or remorseful about your use of prescription drugs?
Have you used prescription drugs as a way to get going or calm down?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may have a problem with the use of prescription drugs.

Most Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs and Their Risks

Opioids: Opioids are commonly prescribed to treat pain. Medications that fall within this category are morphine, codeine, oxycodone (Oxycontin), etc. The risks involved with opioid abuse and addiction include withdrawal symptoms (nausea, muscle pain, restlessness, diarrhea), and respiratory problems.
CNS Depressants: CNS depressants are commonly prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Medications that fall within this category are Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines. A result of improper use of CNS depressants can be dependence, and dependence can result in withdrawal symptoms when use is reduce or stopped. CNS depressants work by slowing the brain's activity, and when an individual stops taking them, the brain can rebound and race out of control, causing seizures and other harmful consequences. Because of this, patients should not try to stop use of CNS depressants on their own, but should speak with a physician or seek medical treatment.
Stimulants: Stimulants are prescribed to treat narcolepsy, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), and obesity. Medications that fall within this category are Dexedrine and Ritalin. There are dangerous consequences to the abuse of stimulants, which include dangerously high body temperatures and an irregular heartbeat. High doses of some stimulants can lead to feeling of hostility and paranoia. Abuse of stimulants also has the potential to cause cardiovascular failure or lethal seizures.

Treatment

When seeking treatment for prescription drug abuse, the most effective treatment programs must take into account the type of drug used and the needs of the individual in order to result in a successful recovery.

There are two main categories of drug addiction treatment:

Behavioral treatments: these treatments are designed to teach people how to function without drugs, how to handle cravings, how to avoid drugs and situations that result in drug use, and how to handle relapse should that occur. Behavioral treatment focuses on creating a new set of skills that will enable the patient to maintain their sobriety and prevent relapse. Behavioral treatments include individual, group, or family counseling and behavioral therapies.
Pharmacological treatments: these treatments use medication to counter the effects of drugs on the brain and behavior. These medications can also be used to relieve the symptoms of withdrawal, to treat an overdose, or to help curb drug cravings.

While both of these approaches are effective on their own, they are most effective when they are combined.

Treating Addiction to Prescription opioids

A useful precursor to long-term addiction treatment for prescription opioids is detoxification, which will relieve withdrawal symptoms, and will help the patient adjust to being drug free. Detoxification must be followed by a long term treatment plan in order to be effective in treating addiction. When treating prescription opioids, there is sometimes a long term plan that incorporates the use of methadone, which is a synthetic opioid that blocks the effects of opioids for up to 72 hours. In addition to the detoxification and methadone treatments, behavioral counseling is also included in the treatment of prescription opioids.

Treating Addiction to CNS Depressants

Patients addicted to barbiturates and benzodiazepines shouldn’t attempt to stop taking them on their own. Withdrawals to these drugs can be problematic and life threatening, and as a result, patients should undergo medically supervised detoxification to gradually taper off use of the drug. This detoxification can be done in conjunction with inpatient or outpatient counseling in order to help the patient through the process of becoming drug free. Abuse of CNS depressants often occurs along with the abuse of another substance or drug, and the treatment of this polydrug abuse must address the multiple addictions of the patient.

Treating Addiction to Prescription Stimulants

The treatment of prescription stimulants is often based on behavioral therapies because there are no medications proven effective for stimulant abuse and addiction. Anti-depressants may be used, however, to help manage the symptoms of depression that can come in the early days of abstinence from stimulants. The first step of treatment for addiction to prescription stimulants is to taper off drug dosage and to attempt to treat withdrawal symptoms. This detoxification process is then followed by behavioral therapies, such as contingency management with a system that rewards patients for drug-free urine tests with vouchers with which they can purchase items that promote a healthy lifestyle. There is also a cognitive-behavioral intervention in the treatment of prescription stimulant addiction, which is designed to modify the patient’s thinking, expectations, and behavior while also increasing the patient’s skills to cope with various stresses. Treatment may also include recovery support groups in order to maintain and support the behaviors and skills that contribute to a successful recovery.

Please call (888) 373-4133 to find the right drug rehabilitation center for you or your loved one.

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