Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment

Arguably the most common reason why people take prescription drugs is to help relieve their pain. That’s why opioids, which are notorious for relieving pain, are so commonly prescribed. In fact, doctors prescribe individuals opioids so much that prescription drug abuse rates have skyrocketed and the U.S. is currently in an opioid epidemic. To overcome the high rates of prescription drug abuse, it’s important to recognize the signs of prescription drug abuse. It’s also important for there to be rehab centers that offer quality prescription drug addiction treatment.   

Causes of Prescription Drug Abuse and Addiction

Unfortunately, because prescription painkillers, such as opioids, are often very strong and addictive, any small form of misuse can lead to prescription drug abuse and eventually, prescription drug addiction. That’s why prescription drug abuse and addiction have become the huge problem that it is today. 

One common cause of prescription drug abuse is people trying to relieve themselves of their pain or symptoms quicker. Because of this, many people who have been genuinely prescribed prescription drugs for pain relief or some other reason will take more pills than they are prescribed to take. This misuse of prescription drugs then often turns into an addiction.  

Another common cause of prescription drug abuse is people taking their prescription medications for a longer period of time than they were prescribed. Many people do this because they are still experiencing some lingering pain or symptoms that they want to get rid of. Unfortunately, this unintentional form of prescription drug abuse often causes people to develop prescription drug addictions.  

Prescription drug addiction is very hard to overcome. That’s because many prescription drugs are strong and highly addictive. Therefore, prescription drug addiction is often severe and deadly. The most effective way to overcome prescription drug addiction is to attend medical detox followed by prescription drug addiction treatment. 

Because of how serious of an issue prescription drug abuse and addiction are, individuals that have loved ones who take prescription drugs should be aware of the signs of prescription drug abuse. Individuals that misuse prescription drugs themselves should also be aware of the signs of prescription drug abuse, addiction, and withdrawal.  

Symptoms and Signs of Prescription Drug Abuse

There are numerous symptoms and signs of prescription drug abuse. These symptoms and signs of prescription drug abuse can vary in type and severity depending on the type of prescription drug that a person is abusing and how long a person has been abusing that prescription drug. 

Common symptoms and signs of prescription drug abuse include:

• Slowed mobility and diminished motor control
• Chronic drowsiness
• Inability to concentrate
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Mood swings
• Difficulty functioning at school or work
• Not managing daily responsibilities
• Difficulty maintaining relationships
• Financial struggles
• Risky behavior
• Withdrawal from society

Signs and Symptoms of Prescription Drug Addiction

Soon after people start abusing prescription drugs, they usually develop a prescription drug addiction. There are many signs and symptoms of prescription drug addiction. 

Some of the common signs and symptoms of prescription drug addiction include:

• Going to different pharmacies to get access to more prescription medications
• Lying, cheating, and stealing
• Risky behavior
• A change in social scene and friendships
• Poor personal hygiene
• Irritability
•  Changes in eating and sleeping habits
• Ordering an excessive amount of prescription drugs online
• Using prescription drugs at a much faster rate than prescribed
• Extreme and sudden bouts of energy
• Extreme drowsiness
• Continuing taking prescription drugs after the designated amount of time that one is supposed to or after the pain has stopped
• Poor decision making
• Increased tolerance for prescription drugs
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when minimizing or discontinuing prescription drug use

Prescription Drug Withdrawal Symptoms

As just mentioned, one of the common signs of prescription drug addiction is the experience of withdrawal symptoms when one minimizes or discontinues the use of prescription drugs. This is because once a person experiences prescription withdrawal symptoms, he or she is already physically dependent on that prescription medication. If you or a loved one is experiencing one of the following prescription withdrawal symptoms, it’s likely that you’ve already developed a prescription drug addiction or that the development of prescription drug addiction isn’t far away. 

• Respiration issues
• Blood circulation issues
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Body convulsions
• Muscle tremors in arms and legs
• Severe stomach cramping
• Loss of motor control
• Anxiety
•  Depression
• Hallucinations

Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment

As mentioned earlier, the best way to treat prescription drug addiction is to attend medical detox followed by prescription drug addiction treatment at a rehab facility. When attending medical detox for prescription drug abuse and addiction, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms. 

Medical Detox

Luckily, medical detox facilities have physicians and medical teams supervising every step of the medical detox process. That way they are there to help you if anything goes wrong. In fact, most doctors at medical detox facilities will prescribe individuals that are detoxing from prescription drugs medications to help them manage their withdrawal symptoms. 

The way that prescription drug withdrawal medications operate combined with the constant supervision of medical detox doctors and staff will prevent individuals from developing an addiction to prescription withdrawal medications. 

Inpatient Treatment

Once individuals complete medical detox for prescription drug addiction, they’ll enter prescription drug addiction treatment at rehab facilities. Individuals with severe prescription drug addiction will attend inpatient or residential treatment at rehab facilities. Inpatient and residential treatment programs require individuals to live in rehab facilities while they’re receiving care. Little Creek Recovery only offers inpatient treatment to male patients. 

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) Treatment

Individuals with moderate to severe addictions can attend partial hospitalization program (PHP) treatment. PHP treatment is the most intense form of outpatient treatment. This is because PHP treatment requires individuals to attend rehab five to eight hours a day, five to seven days a week.  

Outpatient forms of rehab don’t require individuals to live in rehab facilities while receiving care. Therefore, PHP treatment patients can spend their evenings and nights in their own homes. 

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) Treatment

The second most intense form of prescription drug outpatient rehab is intensive outpatient program (IOP) treatment. IOP treatment requires patients to attend rehab for approximately a few hours a day, a few days a week. 

Outpatient Program (OP) Treatment

The least intense form of outpatient rehab for addiction to prescription drugs is standard outpatient program (OP) treatment. Outpatient program treatment for prescription drug addiction requires patients to attend rehab for approximately a couple of hours a day, once or twice a week. Because outpatient program treatment requires patients to attend rehab for such a small amount of time, individuals should only attend outpatient program treatment if their addiction issues are mild. 

Receive Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment At Little Creek Recovery

Little Creek Recovery is a drug and alcohol rehab center that’s located in Pennsylvania. Here at Little Creek Recovery, we understand the signs of prescription drug abuse. We also understand that men suffer from substance addiction at higher rates than women. That’s why Little Creek specializes in drug addiction treatment for men only. 

In fact, all of the inpatient/residential treatment programs here at Little Creek are for men only. The outpatient treatment programs here at Little Creek Recovery are co-ed though. 

Here at Little Creek Recovery, our mission is to build a strong foundation and integrate internalized recovery through therapeutic and 12-step models, with a focus on the spiritual paradigm. Thus, we offer evidence-based addiction treatment programs and therapies and holistic forms of addiction treatment and therapy at our facility. This includes the addiction treatment programs and therapies for prescription drug abuse and addiction treatment. We even offer outgoing patients the ability to stay in our sober living facility. 

To learn more about Little Creek Recovery and the different addiction treatment programs and therapies that we offer, contact us today! We would love to hear from you![