Prescription Drug Abuse

Many prescription drugs are opioid-based. According to the Drug and Alcohol Review, opiates have a high potential for abuse and addiction.

Examples of prescription opioids include:

Opioids are not the only prescription drugs that are abused. Rehabilitation centers around the world are seeing clients enter treatment for addiction to prescription benzodiazepines and stimulants. Benzodiazepines, like opioids, are depressant drugs. This means that they slow down activity in the central nervous system (CNS), as explained by The Ochsner Journal.

Common benzodiazepines include:

According to the Journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, opioids and benzodiazepines are particularly dangerous when taken along with other substances, such as alcohol, for example, as this is also a depressant. If a person uses opioids or benzodiazepines along with alcohol, they risk dangerously slowed breathing and a drop in heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to death, accoridng to the Journal of Psychiatric Research.

Stimulants are also common prescription drugs that are abused. Prescription stimulants are typically given to adults or children who have ADD or ADHD.

Examples of prescription stimulants include:

Addictions often develop as a result of ‘positive reinforcement’, claims a report in Neuropsychopharmacology. This is a psychological process whereby a person is driven to take the drug repeatedly to achieve a biological ‘reward’. Positive reinforcement is particularly common among people who already struggle with another condition or disorder. These drugs can give temporary relief and provide an appealing break from the symptoms of the pre-existing condition.

When prescription drugs are misused, users achieve a ‘high’ in the form of relaxation, pleasure, mild euphoria, increased concentration, or significantly reduced anxiety and depression.

According to The Psychiatric Clinics of North America, genetics may also play a role in the onset of addiction. If a person has an immediate relative suffering from substance abuse, then that person is at a higher risk of developing an addiction themselves.

A third common factor in developing an addiction is a person’s environment, according to a report in Military Medicine. If an individual is exposed to substance abuse in their early years, the behavior may become normalized, and the dangers associated with misuse will seem less dangerous. If a person is surrounded by peers who use drugs, they are also more likely to misuse them. In addition, the experience of stressful life events such as sudden loss or trauma can increase a person’s likelihood of substance misuse.

Addiction is already a complicated condition to treat. Treatment becomes more complex when the client is suffering from an underlying or pre-existing disorder.

The journal Social Work in Public Health reports that disorders that often co-occur with substance abuse include:

In addition to positive reinforcement and genetic and environmental factors, an attempt to self-medicate can also cause addiction. Attempts at self-medication may provide some short-term relief from the existing condition but only serve to worsen the condition in the long-term and increase the likelihood of addiction.

At Excel Treatment Center, we assist with comprehensive, medically supervised detox and withdrawal management for each client. This is a crucial step in the recovery process. If you attempt to stop using prescription drugs without professional help, the consequences can be dire, even fatal. In cases of opioid or benzodiazepine abuse, extra care must be taken in detox, and these drugs need to be tapered off slowly, as explained in the journal Australian Prescriber. Attempting to stop using stimulants suddenly after a prolonged period of use can exacerbate the psychological damage that has already been caused by these drugs.

Excel’s detox and withdrawal protocols offer clients a safe and supervised environment in which they can begin to recover from addiction.

Detox involves:

Beginning on the road to recovery is not easy. At Excel, we help clients get through this stage as smoothly as possible. We provide all the necessary support required to help you or your loved one cope with the trauma of substance abuse and the difficulties and overwhelm that come with stopping.