Recover from Prescription Drug Addiction
Prescription Drug Addiction and Treatment
Prescription medication abuse is sweeping our nation, leaving destruction, death and suffering in its wake. Between 2001 and 2011, the number of prescription drug overdose deaths in the United States tripled. Rates of prescription medication abuse are still rising so dramatically that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now classifying it as an official epidemic. In 2010 alone, an estimated 8.76 million Americans abused pharmaceutical medications.
Unfortunately, many people believe that because a medication came from a pharmacy and was prescribed by a doctor, it is safe and less addictive than illegal drugs like cocaine. On the contrary, taking medicine for reasons or in dosages other than as prescribed constitutes abuse and can rapidly spiral into full-blown addiction. Some users ultimately die from overdoses, while others are forced to turn to illegal substances like heroin when their prescription supply runs out. In fact, studies have shown that the majority of heroin users are now young, white suburban-dwellers who turned to the drug after first using prescription oxycodone.
Commonly abused classes of prescription medications include opioids (for pain), central nervous system depressants (for anxiety and sleep disorders), and stimulants (for ADHD and narcolepsy). Opioids include hydrocodone (Vicodin®), oxycodone (OxyContin®), propoxyphene (Darvon®), hydromorphone (Dilaudid®), meperidine (Demerol®), and diphenoxylate (Lomotil®). Central nervous system depressants include barbiturates such as pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal®), and benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium®) and alprazolam (Xanax®). Stimulants include dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®), methylphenidate (Ritalin® and Concerta®), and amphetamines (Adderall®).
You Are Not Alone
It can be difficult and scary to admit that you or someone you love has a prescription drug addiction, but know that you are far from alone. Abuse rates in the United States are at an all-time high, with people of every age, region, class and background falling prey to this virulent disease.
While a lasting recovery is entirely possible, prescription drug addiction is virtually impossible to cure without the proper treatment. Fairwinds Treatment Center specializes in helping individuals reclaim their lives, using our unique dual diagnosis methodology. For each of our patients, we develop an individualized, integrated plan to address physical dependency as well as any underlying psychological, mental and/or emotional issues that may have triggered or contributed to the addiction. This personalized combination of clinical treatment and therapeutic counseling promotes comprehensive healing and wellness while minimizing the risk of relapse.
Get Help Now
Perhaps you are struggling with an addiction to prescription medication, or maybe you are researching treatment facilities or rehab for a friend or loved one. Regardless, it’s important to realize that prescription medication addictions can rapidly worsen, making it crucial to identify and treat the problem as early as possible. The first step is contacting the admissions team at Fairwinds Treatment Center. From there we can discuss your situation and schedule an assessment to determine the best course of action for treatment and recovery.
Info-graphic
Prescription Medication Abuse has become a national epidemic. We created this info-graphic to illustrate some key points surrounding this issue.
