Prescription Drug Addiction in Big Spring, TX
Prescription drug addiction in Big Spring is an increasing public health concern. It's common for many people abusing addictive drugs to assume that prescription medication must be somehow safer than illicit street drugs, so they believe they can't possibly become addicted.
Abusing any prescription medication increases the risk of developing an addiction. Drug abuse is classified as taking any medication in ways other than what the doctor prescribed.
For example, taking medications prescribed for another person, taking higher doses than the doctor prescribed, or taking drugs simply to get high or stoned are all considered forms of drug abuse.
However, there are people taking some types of prescription medication exactly as the doctor prescribed who may become addicted to the drugs they take. Over a period of time, the brain adapts to the presence of the drug in the system, so the effectiveness of the medication loses some of its effect. This is known as developing tolerance.
A doctor may review the person's prescription and adjust the dosage accordingly to ensure symptoms of the condition being treated are well-managed. By comparison, a person abusing drugs for recreational purposes may simply start increasing the dosage being taken in order to achieve the same effects that used to be reached with smaller amounts.
Over a period of time, the brain adapts to the increased levels of the drug in the system and becomes reliant on it. If the person tries to stop taking the medication suddenly, it's likely that withdrawal symptoms may emerge. At this point the person is considered addicted.
Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs
There are some types of prescription drugs that are more commonly abused than others. These include:
Opiate painkillers: Prescription opiate painkiller medications are designed to treat chronic or acute pain and can include OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet or morphine, although they're often abused for inducing similar effects to taking heroin. Treating addiction to opiate painkillers is the same as treating someone addicted to heroin.
Sedative medications: Sedative medications, or tranquilizers, may be prescribed to treat anxiety or sleeping disorders and include Xanax or Valium, but they're commonly abused for recreational purposes. Sedatives act as depressants on the central nervous system and may require careful tapering down of the dose being taken in order to stop usage.
Stimulants: Stimulant medications, such as Adderall, may be given to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but are often abused by those hoping to take advantage of the stimulant effect. Treating an addiction to stimulant medications is similar to treating someone addictive to cocaine or methamphetamine.
There are some common signs and symptoms of prescription drug addiction in Big Spring to watch for. These include:
- Loss of control of the amount and frequency of use
- Cravings to take more of the drug
- Tolerance to the drug's effects
- Withdrawal symptoms
Treatment Options for Prescription Drug Addiction
Treating prescription drug addiction in Big Spring needs to be tailored to suit each person's individual needs. Addiction specialists take into account the type of drug being taken, the length of use, the dosage being taken, the severity of the addiction, and the presence of any co-occurring mental health disorders.
Successful treatment for drug addiction begins with the process of drug detox in Big Spring. Depending on the type of drug being taken, some drug rehab centers may prescribe replacement medications to alleviate the worst of any withdrawal symptoms that may emerge.
People recovering from an addiction to other types of prescription drugs, such as Xanax or Valium, may need to have their current dosage tapered down over a period of time under medical supervision.
In order to improve the outcome of treatment programs in Big Spring, specialists at a drug and alcohol treatment center will begin behavioral therapy sessions and individual counseling. The objective of therapy is to address the underlying psychological triggers behind addictive drug abuse.
A key aspect of prescription drug addiction treatment is developing a relapse prevention strategy. The recovering person is taught new coping skills for dealing with life without the need for abusing drugs.
After leaving the drug and alcohol treatment center, it's important that the recovering person has access to a range of addiction rehab aftercare services that help maintain motivation to stay clean and sober. Call us for more information (877) 804-1531.