Early intervention and successful treatment can result from timely identification of these warning signs. For example, the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids shared the story of John who fell victim to drug abuse when he was prescribed Vicodin for a back injury. Therapies like CBT Therapy and DBT Therapy help individuals address underlying triggers, develop coping mechanisms, and build healthier thought patterns. If you or someone you love is exhibiting these signs, seeking professional help through a Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment Program is essential. Abusing prescription medicine has an array of serious medical consequences.
Long-Term Health Consequences
Exploring the abuse of prescription drugs and its signs, risks, and detox can help those seeking help and those wanting to support a loved one addicted to prescription drugs. Individuals struggling with substance abuse often grapple with underlying mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. For example, someone misusing opioids might also be battling depression. Combining prescription drugs with other substances like alcohol or street drugs elevates the risk of harm and can lead to life-threatening consequences. If you or a loved one is showing signs of prescription drug abuse, don’t wait to seek help. At Compassion Behavioral Health, we understand the courage it takes to reach out for amphetamine addiction treatment support.
Charitable Care & Financial Assistance
Consider therapy for yourself to help you cope with the impacts of addiction on your own emotions and life. The substance itself likely has detrimental health effects—such as liver or lung damage, for example—but will also affect the person’s relationships and daily life. It can lead to severe mental health effects from both the physical changes to the brain and also the disconnect from meaningful relationships and activities. The best option for treatment will depend on the patient’s specific needs, and should be decided in consultation with a doctor, counselor, and trusted family and friends.
Inpatient Rehabilitation
Or, if you find yourself demonstrating any of these signs, be honest with yourself about what you’re going through. But the following are the most addictive and need the most care when taking. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports, in 2018, over 10 million Americans 12 and over misused opioids. Specifically, prescription pain medication was misused by 9.7 million people. Even when using medications as prescribed, a person can have short-term side effects. For example, opioids that help moderate-to-severe pain can have short-term side effects such as shallow breathing, drowsiness, and constipation.
Some people also exaggerate their symptoms to continue on medications, even though they no longer need them, and could be weaned off them. By using medications safely, talking openly, and supporting community efforts, we can all help reduce prescription prescription drug abuse drug abuse. Misusing prescription drugs can take a serious toll on both your body and mind.
Healthcare professionals use various tools and methods to diagnose prescription drug abuse. Voted one of America’s “Best Addiction Treatment Centers” by Newsweek five years in a row, we offer detox, residential treatment, and outpatient programs tailored to each person’s needs. Our holistic approach addresses both the physical and emotional challenges of addiction, helping people rebuild their lives with the right tools and support. When someone has a legitimate prescription, it can be hard to tell the difference between proper use and misuse. But over time, patterns emerge—changes in behavior, physical health, and emotional stability that point to something deeper than just taking medication.
- If you believe you’re experiencing struggles with prescription medication use, you’re not alone.
- Verify your insurance today – treatment could be more affordable than you think.
- The bad news is that the withdrawals from benzodiazepines are excruciatingly painful and can be life-threatening.
- Someone abusing illicit prescription drugs is often fueled by the euphoric and pleasurable effects experienced.
- Research from 2021 showed that over 14 million people over the age of 12 said they’d abused a prescription medication in the past year.
One of the most serious risks of drug abuse is the potential for overdose. https://www.smarttravel.co.kr/how-to-apply-oxford-houses-of-virginia-2/ While prescription overdoses most typically involve opioids, it is possible to overdose on stimulants or depressants, especially if they are mixed with other drugs or alcohol. Stimulants increase energy, alertness, and attention, which is why they are a popular treatment for individuals coping with attention and sleep disorders. They also trigger the release of the brain chemicals dopamine and norepinephrine, which are related to pleasure and rewards.
A person recovering from surgery may need opioids for pain, or someone struggling with severe anxiety may rely on sedatives to feel calm. But when the body starts needing the drug to function normally, it’s a sign that dependence has developed. Despite the varying circumstances, all of these examples depict different ways people abuse prescription medications. It has been hypothesized this is related to temperament, which is believed to be inborn. If you or a loved one is using prescription drugs, you should be aware of the signs of drug abuse.
Long-term misuse can lead to respiratory depression, overdose, and death. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is especially potent and frequently involved in fatal overdoses. Since misuse often starts gradually, recognizing the signs early can prevent long-term damage. Prescription drug abuse doesn’t happen overnight—it begins with small changes that seem insignificant but gradually become impossible to ignore.
What are the risks of prescription drug abuse?
Generic drugs are designed to work exactly the same as their name-brand counterparts, just for a lower cost. When a doctor writes a prescription, they will usually indicate if it is acceptable for the patient to take the generic brand, if one exists. Evidence-based therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy can identify harmful behaviors triggering the addiction and seek to correct them by replacing the thoughts. The therapist encourages the individual with the addiction to find motivation from within to push through recovery. Our treatment services are catered toward discovering and implementing solutions for sustained, long-term recovery.