Are you or someone you love struggling with prescription drug abuse? If you’re worried about the toll addiction takes on your health, remember that professional help is always available to help you get better. You don’t have to walk your recovery path alone.
If you’re already at a point where you’re looking for prescription drug detox centers remember that detox is just the first step. What’s more important is to work with an addiction treatment specialist to develop a plan that works for you, your treatment provider, and your healthcare provider.
Signs of Prescription Drug Abuse
Specific signs of prescription drug abuse depend on the drug involved, which can be any of the following:
- Opioids: These prescription drugs are used to treat pain and include Oxycontin and Percocet.
- Depressants are typically anti-anxiety medications and sedatives, such as Xanax and Valium. Hypnotics that can also be used to treat sleep disorders may also be lumped in this category, such as Ambien.
- Stimulants: These prescription drugs include Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall XR, Mydayis, and Dexedrine. They’re often used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and certain sleep disorders.
How do you know if you or someone you care about absolutely needs to get admitted into prescription drug addiction treatment or a similar program for drugs that don’t provide pain relief? Signs of prescription drug abuse that don’t depend on the drug involved include the following:
- Appearing to be energetic or revved up, or sedated
- Changing sleep patterns
- Experiencing excessive mood swings or feeling hostile
- Impaired decision-making
- Requesting early refills or consistently “losing” prescriptions
- Seeking prescriptions from more than one doctor
- Stealing, forging, or selling prescriptions
- Taking higher doses than prescribed
What Clients Can Expect From a Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program
Even if you want to get better and leave addiction issues in your past, you may still be intimidated when getting admitted into a substance use disorder treatment program. However, sometimes this nervousness can be eased by knowing exactly what will happen. Here’s are the typical stages clients go through when they go through addiction treatment programs:
- Admission and assessment: A client needs to be assessed — usually through an intake interview and several medical tests — before they’re admitted because their details will be used to create a customized treatment plan. This is also the stage where the client can talk to an addiction treatment specialist to figure out what type of program they should look into based on their addiction issues and how they choose to pay for the services.
- Detox and stabilization: Many addiction treatment programs require participants to go through detox first. Depending on a client’s addiction, they may go through this process at an opiate detox center, an alcohol detox center, or a similar center better equipped for their particular substance use disorder. Sometimes, medication-assisted treatment (MAT) will be offered, especially for clients struggling with prescription drugs or alcohol addictions.
- Transition to further treatment and therapy: Once a client is stabilized and no longer struggling with withdrawal symptoms, they can begin with the rest of the addiction treatment program — which can include one-on-one sessions with a counselor, group and family therapy sessions, and other activities to help them overcome cravings and avoid relapsing.
- Aftercare Planning: Before clients leave an addiction treatment program, they should sit down with a medical professional to finalize their aftercare plan. This can include membership to support groups, scheduled drug tests, and even a short stay at a sober living home. The point of an aftercare plan is to provide support for the client beyond the walls of the treatment facility.
Find a Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment Program That Suits You Today
Prescription drug addiction treatment programs can help people who are struggling to break free from addictions that are harming them and others important to them. Not only does seeking professional help improve someone’s health, but it also gives them a chance to repair damaged relationships and lead happier and more productive lives.
While the first step of detox can be difficult to get through, and the cost of professional help may be heavy to bear, a better life — devoid of consistent disappointment and pain — is waiting for you after you go through rehab. Set your healing in motion by appointment with a trusted physician or a nearby addiction treatment facility.
