What Is Prescription Drug Addiction Rehab?

What Is Prescription Drug Addiction Rehab?

While prescription drugs can relieve or cure health conditions, prescription drug addiction is real and can become a major health challenge.

table of contents
What is Prescription Drug Addiction?
Most Addictive Prescription Drugs
Causes and Risk Factors of Prescription Drug Addiction
Side Effects of Prescription Drug Addiction
Prescription Drug Addiction Rehab
Prescription Drug Addiction Rehab Programs
Resources

What is Prescription Drug Addiction?

Prescription drug addiction is an inappropriate dependence on a particular drug that, although effective for treating specific health conditions, can also become dangerous when used inordinately.

It is important to understand the risk of developing a dependence on any substance – even when it is prescribed by a medical professional.

Understanding Addiction

Addiction may be the resultant effect of prescription drug abuse. This occurs when anyone takes medication for any reason other than what it's prescribed for. It is important to continually consult a medical professional on the impact of prescription drug intake.

Prescription Drug Addiction Statistics

Medical statistics estimate that more than 18 million people between the ages of 12 and above have used prescriptions for non-medical reasons in 2021. This means more than 6% of the US population has abused prescription drugs in the past year.1

In 2020 alone, approximately 16,416 people died due to prescription drug addiction related to the overdose intake of opioids.2

Most Addictive Prescription Drugs

Drugs can be prescribed to alleviate or heal a variety of symptoms and conditions. However, they do not come without their own subset of risks. 

The most addictive prescription drugs are as follows:

  • Opioids: Opioids are a group of prescription drugs known to be effective pain killers. When taken rightly, opioids are safe because they can also help boost users' quality of life. However, taking opioids for too long can lead to abuse, dependence, and addiction.
  • Stimulants: Stimulants are a major cause of prescription drug abuse in the US and several other countries worldwide. Stimulants boost energy levels and alertness and can help increase heart rate and blood sugar. They are used for treating conditions like depression and narcolepsy.
  • Central Nervous System Depressants: Millions of people in the US use CNS depressants like Valium and Xanax for treating conditions such as anxiety and sleep disorders. Because of their significant brain-altering effects, they are very easy to get addicted to.

Causes and Risk Factors of Prescription Drug Addiction

Most prescription drug addiction cases start with a genuine need to take a medically prescribed drug. However, some drugs may cause users to become dependent as they alter how the brain works.

Also, misuse of prescription drugs may trigger addiction as users consume drugs for the effects without consulting a medical practitioner.

Prescription Drug Addiction Risk Factors

Certain factors can make people more prone to prescription drug abuse, which can, in turn, cause prescription drug addiction.

Biological Factors

Certain biological or genetic factors may expose some persons to conditions requiring frequent prescription drug use. The constant need to use these treatments might cause addiction to prescription drugs over time.

Environmental Factors

Social media and peer pressure are two important risk factors for prescription drug misuse. Also, exposure to an environment where certain prescription drugs are heavily abused can encourage people to begin to do the same.

General Health

The general health state can also predispose people to substance abuse. For example, a developed health condition that causes constant pain may cause the concerned person to become addicted to prescription drugs like opioids.

Substance Misuse History

People with a history of substance abuse are more likely to abuse prescription drugs if they aren't properly followed up.

Other Factors

Other prescription drug addiction risk factors include knowledge about prescription drugs and how they might affect the body and access to proper healthcare.

Side Effects of Prescription Drug Addiction

Any kind of drug, once abused, can change how the body works. Prescription drug addiction presents several side effects which can be serious health risks on their own.

Common Side Effects of Prescription Opioids

The misuse of prescription drugs like opioids can cause the following side effects:

  • Slow or shallow breathing
  • Dizziness
  • Slurred speech
  • Stomach upset, accompanied by vomiting or constipation
  • Poor coordination
  • Mood swings
  • Anxiety or depression

Common Side Effects of Prescription Stimulants

The side effects of prescription drug addiction to stimulants include but are not limited to:

  • Dizziness
  • Insomnia
  • Headache
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • High blood pressure
  • Uneven heart rate
  • Nervousness and paranoia

Common Side Effects of CNS Depressants

Using CNS depressants for an extended period can make anyone prone to prescription drug abuse. Some of the side events of CNS depressants abuse and addiction are:

  • Poor judgment
  • Trouble walking, talking, and concentrating
  • Slow reflexes
  • Memory problems
  • Slow breathing
  • Mood changes

Prescription Drug Addiction Rehab

Thankfully, there are treatment measures for prescription drug misuse. A prescription drug addiction rehab is a recognized center that administers treatment, help, and care for people who are addicted to prescription drugs.3

How Effective are Prescription Drug Addiction Rehabs?

Medical experts confirm that counseling is the most common and effective treatment for prescription drug addiction, especially addiction to CNS depressants and stimulants.

Prescription drug addiction rehabs are the best place to get professional counseling for issues related to the abuse of prescription drugs. These rehab centers are specially created for cases like these and assure individuals with dedicated and professional attention.

Factors that May Affect Any Prescription Drug Addiction Rehab Program

Like any other rehabilitation program, some factors may speed up and slow down positive responses to a prescription drug addiction rehab program. Some of them include:

The Type of Drug Addiction

Just as the likelihood of addiction to different prescription drugs varies, the response time to rehabilitation will also vary. For example, it may be harder to come off the addiction to stimulants or CNS depressants than addiction to opioids.

The Individual Unique Needs

The unique needs of the concerned person may also affect how fast they respond to a prescription drug addiction rehab program. If the user still needs to keep taking the prescription drugs due to some long-term health condition, it may be harder for them to come off addiction.

Additional Factors

Other factors that may affect response to a prescription drug addiction rehab program are willingness on the user's part, age, and level of education.

Prescription Drug Addiction Rehab Programs


Prescription drug addiction rehab options include:

  • Medically Managed Prescription Drug Detox: This involves treating prescription drug addiction using other drugs that can detoxify the body of the initial prescription drug that was abused so that the side effects of such drug can be managed.4 
  • Inpatient Treatment: This is a drug addiction treatment program that requires the concerned individual to be fully rehabilitated in a rehab facility for optimum treatment and supervision.
  • Behavioral Therapy: Behavioral therapy seeks to help individuals understand how their thought patterns work to encourage prescription drug misuse and how they can overcome the behaviors that trigger such misuse. This kind of program helps individuals build resilience and coping mechanisms against negative impulses.

  • MAT: Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is a technique a prescription drug addiction rehab center uses by combining medications with other measures like counseling and behavioral therapy. MAT provides an individual with a wholesome treatment approach to prescription drug misuse.5

Find Help for Prescription Drug Addiction at Anew Treatment Center

Are you in need of prescription drug rehab for yourself or a relative? At Anew Treatment Center, our devotion is to help people of all backgrounds overcome prescription drug addiction. Our wide range of rehab options offers enough to choose from. We’re also available to recommend the most effective rehab options to people willing to recover from addiction to prescription drugs.

Resources


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