Prescription Drug Addiction – Warning Signs

When it comes to prescription drug use, it can be difficult to recognize the signs of addiction. Though many people utilize these substances to help cope with severe pain and discomfort, it can be easy for users to slip into a spiral of abuse and dependency. There are a variety of telltale signs to note, when addiction is suspected. In this entry, we will seek to inform and education our readers on some of the behaviors and signs to look for.

Missing Meds

One of the most commons signs associated with prescription drug addiction is missing medications. Addicts will often steal medications from the cabinets of friends and family members in addition to over-the-counter drugs. If you suspect your loved one of a prescription drug addiction, it is best to remove and hide all medications.

Doctors Visits

As the medication supply begins to dwindle, addicts will begin seeking out multiple physicians in an effort to appease their habit. Increased doctors visits are a common warning sign that an addiction may be present.

Altered Sleep Habits

One of the major signs associated with prescription drug addiction is disrupted sleep habits. Due to the fact that many prescription medications contain one or more sleep agents, addicts will often experience altered sleep cycles, whether deprivation or excess.

Alcohol Consumption

Increased alcohol consumption is yet another warning sign to watch for. Depending on which medication the individual prefers, the addict may utilize alcohol to help maintain a proper sleep schedule, while attempting to promote a comfortable “come down”.

Mood Swings

As with most drugs, prescription drug addiction can often result in wild mood swings and irritability. Day-to-day issues that might otherwise be brushed aside will commonly result in tantrums, fits of rage, and hostility.

Need Help?

If you or someone you love is struggling with a prescription drug addiction, our prescription drug treatment center is the place to call. Pick up the phone today, and let our team of addiction specialists help you back on track towards the happy, healthy, and fulfilling life you deserve. 

Do I Need Prescription Drug Treatment?

Prescription drug treatment is gaining momentum as individuals across the U.S. continue to develop pain killer addictions. In certain instances, people are placed on these medications following an injury or surgery, ultimately leading to a dependency following extended periods of use. In this entry, we will help you identify some common signs associated with prescription drug addiction.

Chronic Pain

Those addicted to prescription medications often cite chronic pain as a reason for their abuse. Many addicts also use this complaint as a means to obtain additional prescriptions from physicians.

Doctor Shopping

Addicts swap pharmacies and doctors on a regular basic to conceal their addictions. Some visit multiple physicians in an attempt to obtain additional prescriptions. In this way, the addict is able to fly under the radar, ultimately escalating the addiction to new heights over time.

False Ailments

Addicts often fake physical and psychological disorders in order to feed their addictions.

Medication Fixation

Though a physician may prescribe alternative treatments to medication, addicts may appear uninterested in attempting these recommendations. Example: An otherwise healthy patient will likely attend a lab testing or X-ray appointment in hopes of finding a solution for their pain; An addict may choose to avoid these commitments on purpose.

Theft

Many prescription drug addicts steal leftover prescriptions from friends and family members. Others lift prescription pads from doctor’s offices to forge future prescriptions. Individuals who ask others for leftover medications are often in the grips of addiction.

Help

If you or someone you know is suffering from a prescription drug addiction, your best option is to locate a specialized substance abuse rehabilitation facility to help address the issue. Search online or in your local Yellow Pages, and call each facility up to learn about it’s specified philosophies and treatments. With a little time and effort, you’ll be able to locate a facility to accommodate your needs and goals on the road to recovery. 

Prescription Drug Treatment Considerations & Facts

Studies show more and more individuals seeking prescription drug treatment to address pain killer addiction. Some people are placed on these types of drugs following a painful injury, while others purchase through street dealers. If taken for long enough periods, these substances can become extremely addictive and harmful to both the individual and those around them. Below, we will outline a few key points to consider when considering recovery from a prescription medication addiction.

Step 1 – Pain killer addiction is extremely common in the U.S., posing a threat to people in all walks of life. Before an individual can receive help for their addiction, they must first admit that there is an issue that requires professional help. Someone who is not interested in receiving help will not respond to the treatment being provided.

Step 2 – If friends and family members are involved in the recovery, an intervention plan must be put in place. Once the addict feels ready to accept help for their dependency, a discussion with a professional drug counselor will better prepare them for the road ahead.

Step 3 – Most professionals agree that inpatient oxycontin rehab is the most effective means in achieving long-lasting sobriety. In this way, the individual is afforded the opportunity to detox and reassess life choices in an environment that is both controlled and positive without excessive exterior influence.

Step 4 – Once in treatment, addicts are introduced to facility philosophies and programs, including group and individual therapy. The addiction is analyzed, assessed and treated along with factors that may have negatively contributed to the individual’s abuse, such as a childhood trauma or recent death in the family.

Step 5 – Following treatment, addicts are encouraged to attend after-care groups, such as NA to help them keep on a sober track in the outside world. 

Prescription Drug Treatment Basics

The recent deaths of Hollywood celebrities, popular TV, and media coverage have placed prescription drug treatment in the limelight of American consciousness. Studies show prescription drug abuse to be growing rapidly, outshining even marijuana in recreational usage. Recovery from this type of addiction is never easy, in many cases requiring the aid and supervision of qualified addiction specialists.

Pain Relievers

Of all the prescription medications available today, pain relievers are abused most often. These medications are potent narcotics, and can be extremely addictive. Addiction to these substances is found more commonly among the elderly, with a recent study showing individuals 60 and over with a 17% addiction rate.

Treatment

Treatment is available to those seeking recovery from prescription drug addiction. Help may come in the form of long-term residential substance abuse rehabilitation or outpatient care, depending on what’s best for the patient.

The withdrawal process from these types of medications can often be hazardous to a patient’s health. As such, it is not uncommon for physicians to recommend patients enter a medically monitored detoxification program prior to rehab to ensure a safe and comfortable transition into recovery.

In addition to detox, individual counseling and psychotherapy is employed to help patients come to terms with emotions that come forth during withdrawal. Counseling serves the patient by providing them with a better understanding as to why they became dependent in the first place. Once inpatient treatment is complete, many patients use outpatient group therapy as a way to continue their recovery outside of the treatment facility, while easing their transition back to a sober and happy lifestyle. 

Oxycontin Addiction Treatment – Withdrawal Symptoms

Perhaps the most feared and misunderstood aspect of Oxycontin addiction treatment is the withdrawal symptoms. Oxycontin withdrawal involves a number of symptoms that take place once an addict reduces or quits taking the medication after prolonged or heavy abuse. The experience is quite similar to that experienced from other opiate-based drugs, including morphine, methadone, heroin and codeine.

What Is The Cause?

As with any opiate-based substance, Oxycontin use can result an addiction or physical dependency. In instances where the drug is used over a long period of time, a tolerance is built, requiring the user to ingest more of the drug in order to achieve the same high.

Individuals that have developed an addiction to Oxycontin who attempt to stop or reduce the intake amount will require a period of adjustment in order to recover from the addiction. As a result, the body begins to experience withdrawal symptoms.

Who Can Experience The Symptoms?

Anybody who has used Oxycontin for a prolonged period of time – generally 3 weeks or more – is likely to experience some level of withdrawal. The extent of withdrawal varies on a case-by-case basis, it will ultimately depend on the intake history and habits of the addict in question. Withdrawal symptoms are not limited to addicts, extending to patients who have be prescribed the drug to address pain resulting for a recent injury or surgical procedure.

What To Expect

Symptoms can range anywhere from severe to mild. Addicts who have chosen to enter an Oxycontin rehab center will be forced to enter a detoxification program prior to continuing their recovery. Here, the individual can receive medical monitoring and medication to help them come down from their addiction in a safe manner.

Getting The Help You Need

If you or someone you know are interested in seeking help for an addiction to Oxycontin, your best bet is to locate an Oxycontin treatment center to get the recovery process in motion. Look for facilities that specialize in Oxycontin and prescription drug rehabilitation and contact them to learn more about their philosophies to assess whether or not they are a good fit for your needs.

OxyContin Rehab – Recognizing The Problem

Addicts in need of Oxycontin rehab may require a little help recognizing their addiction. When an individual is in a large amount of pain, prescription medications are an easy way to regain temporary function. Unfortunately, long-term use of these substances rarely solves anything, resulting only in a vicious dependency cycle. Due to the fact that these pain-killers are both mentally and physically addictive, those who gain a dependency will do most anything to maintain a steady intake. If you believe yourself or someone you know to be an Oxycontin addict, the following steps can be used to identify the issue.

Step 1 – Be honest. Though it’s certainly much easier to brush the issue aside, procrastination and ego-trips will get you nowhere. If you believe yourself to have a dependency issue, chances are, you probably do.

Step 2 – Does it annoy you when friends and family members bring up your Oxycontin use? In most every case of addiction, defensiveness is a fairly clear sign that you may have an issue.

Step 3 – Do you find yourself feeling guilty about your pain current pain killer use? Guilt is one of the many signs that you are likely already immersed or headed toward an addiction.

Step 4 – Determine whether you commonly use Oxycontin at a higher dose than recommended. Do you need them to get to sleep or to perk up in the morning? Perhaps before an important business meeting or a family function? Self-medicating at higher doses than prescribed signals an evolving tolerance, which can many times lead to dependency.

Step 5 – If you are still having doubts, you may want to get in touch with a Oxycontin rehab treatment specialist. Depending on how far along your addiction is, there are a number of things that can be done to help you correct the issue at hand. If it is determined that an unhealthy dependency is apparent, you may want to consider researching local treatment for Oxycontin addicts to help you through the recovery process.