If you or someone you care about is currently dealing with prescription drug use, you may be wondering how a medical need like this turns into prescription drug addiction. Unfortunately, some prescription drugs are both effective when used medically and highly addictive when used recreationally. While this is a concern for most medical professionals, it does not prevent them from giving people drugs like these when they are necessary.
Some people may not even realize it when they switch from medical to recreational use. It might be much more difficult for someone to go from recreational usage to addiction, yet it indicates an increase in a variety of health issues. Reach out to Silicon Beach Treatment Center if you’re searching for a Los Angeles, California prescription drug addiction treatment center. You may call [Direct] or connect with our team through our convenient online form.
Why Prescription Drug Use Is Dangerous
It’s a widespread misconception that prescription medicines are safer or less dangerous than other drugs. However, prescription medications can be quite powerful and highly addictive, with some requiring prescriptions because they are more harmful than other medicines that perform the same functions.
The following are some of the most frequent short- and long-term health hazards caused by each sort of prescription medicine:
- Depressants: Misusing this type of drug can cause disorientation, fatigue, lack of coordination, shallow breathing, and slurred speech.
- Stimulants: Misusing this type of drug can cause side effects that are common with cocaine use. These include dangerously high body temperature, irregular heartbeat, and paranoia, especially if stimulants are taken in large doses.
- Opioids: Misusing this type of drug can cause side effects that are common with heroin use. These include constipation, drowsiness, nausea, and slowed breathing.
Signs that Prescription Drug Use Has Turned into Prescription Drug Addiction
Prescription drug addiction has a variety of signs and symptoms. The visible indicators will be determined by the type of drug being abused, the amount of abuse, any additional conceivable drug abuse, and the length of addiction.
The following are some of the most common signs of prescription drug abuse, regardless of type:
- Being intoxicated, very energetic, or lethargic
- Changes in sleeping and eating patterns
- Doctor shopping or visiting multiple doctors to obtain more prescriptions
- Losing multiple prescriptions for prescription medications
- Lying about the amount of medication used
- Mood swings relating to the availability of prescription medications
- Stashing medication in multiple places
- Stealing prescription medication or forging prescriptions
- Taking higher doses than prescribed
- Using prescription medications at a much faster rate than prescribed
- Withdrawal when the prescription drug is not available
What to Expect from a Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment Program
Because addiction is a mental illness, it has to be treated as one. Effective prescription drug addiction treatment programs must concentrate on the substance being abused and each client’s requirements. Clients must ensure that the program they go through is comprehensive yet customized in order to have a better chance of overcoming prescription drug dependency. The creation of a treatment plan for a client necessitates the understanding and utilization of their intake and detox procedures.
The majority of drug rehabilitation programs combine behavioral therapy in various ways, usually as individual, group, or family sessions. A medication-assisted treatment (MAT) component may also be present in some programs. Some prescription medications, such as methadone or naltrexone, may be used to treat addiction to these drugs.
Before being released from the treatment center, a client should be given an aftercare strategy that is tailored to his or her needs by the facility’s personnel. Transitional housing, scheduled medical checkups, continuous individual therapy, and more may all be included in the plan.
Learn More About Silicon Beach Treatment Center Today
If you’re searching for a prescription drug addiction treatment program in Los Angeles, reach out to Silicon Beach Treatment Center. Call [Direct] or contact our team online.
