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Prescription Drugs Addiction Treatment

Estimated reading time: 37 minute(s)

Misuse of prescription drugs occurs when the medication is used in a fashion other than that prescribed by a doctor. For certain drugs with addictive qualities, this misuse may result in a harmful addiction.

People abuse prescription medications for numerous reasons. These include social influence, experimentation with effects, relieving stress, experiencing euphoria, and increasing work or school-related alertness or attention. Medication that stimulates the brain’s center for motivation and reward can result in severe addiction.

That being said, there are numerous medication-assisted and non-medication solutions for prescription drug abuse available at high-end luxury rehab centers as well as executive treatments at residential and inpatient rehabs.

Treatment Options For Prescription Drug Addiction

The majority of prescription drug addictions are treatable without the need for extra medications. In some instances, however, withdrawal symptoms are so severe that they must be handled under medical supervision. 

Prescription drug addiction can be managed efficiently and with a low likelihood of relapse, according to strong scientific evidence. In addition to medication-based treatment approaches, the management of severe prescription drug addiction has been shown to be successful.

It can be unsafe to manage drug addiction with extra medications; therefore, these prescription drugs and substance abuse treatment strategies must be developed and supervised by competent physicians.

The Food and Drug Administration of the United States has approved many medications for the treatment of opioid abuse. Nonetheless, few treatment programs or clinicians offer these medications:

  • Methadone
  • Naltrexone
  • Buprenorphine
  • Naloxone

You should be forthright with your doctor about your prescription drug use, and you should get medical advice before beginning any new prescriptions to avoid difficulties or unpleasant side effects.

Facility Treatment Options

Joining a mental health facility is typically the initial stage of therapy for prescription medication addiction. Your physician will perform a diagnostic and then build an individualized treatment plan for you. Long-term prescription drug abusers who have the resources to deal with intense withdrawal symptoms may be recommended facility-based therapy by the physician.

There are three facility-based therapy options available; they will be described in greater detail below.

High-End Residential Treatment

High-end residential treatment can be further classified into short-term and long-term residential treatments.

  1. Long-Term Residential Treatment

The duration of these programs ranges from six months to two years. People in long-term residential rehabs have comparatively stronger results with a prescription for drug addiction rehabilitation because they are exposed to a drug-free atmosphere for a longer time.

  1. Short-Term Residential Treatment

These often require less time and last between 30 and 90 days. The treatment is excellent for those who engage in heavy prescription drug addiction, but whose addiction has not yet reached a critical stage. Usually, extended outpatient care follows short-term treatment.

Inpatient Treatment

When seeking assistance for prescription medication addiction, rehab treatment centers provide a variety of treatment choices.

If necessary, you will be offered a full medically supervised detoxification for your prescription drug addiction at the beginning of your individualized treatment plan. This includes:

  • 24-hour clinical support from seasoned medical practitioners who will ensure your safety.
  • A substance-free setting reduces the likelihood of relapse.
  • If necessary, controlled medicine might be administered to alleviate any symptoms of withdrawal from prescription drugs you may encounter.
  • Psychological assistance from mental health experts with extensive expertise in addiction

After completing detox, which can last from 7 and 10 days based on the type of prescription drug being abused, you will undergo addiction therapy. This therapy may be included in any 7, 21, or 28-day inpatient treatment programs, which are based on the well-known 12-step approach to prescription drug addiction recovery.

Prescription drug treatment typically occurs as part of the intense 28-day Addiction Treatment Program. During such a program, you will stay on a residential basis at one of the specialized hospital sites, where you will participate in an intensive individual and group counseling program designed to help you confront the source and triggers of your addictive behaviors, learn to figure out how to deal without prescription drugs, and pursue a healthier lifestyle.

The suggested treatment duration for prescription medication addiction is 28 days, although the duration of your therapy can be adjusted based on your situation, needs, and obligations.

Outpatient Treatment

In addition to providing thorough inpatient addiction therapy, high-end treatment centers can also provide outpatient and daycare rehabilitation for prescription drug addiction, based on the extent and nature of your addiction and the level of assistance you require.

These treatment choices may serve as an introductory outline to addiction treatment and therapy, or as a step-down in treatment response for those who have completed an intensive residential program for prescription drug addiction.

Components Of the Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment Program

There are numerous important components for a successful prescription drug addiction recovery. These measures comprise of:

Detoxification

Detoxification may be required as part of treatment, based on the prescription medicine and its usage. Withdrawal can be harmful and should be performed under the supervision of a medical professional.

Opioid withdrawal. Opioid tapering entails progressively decreasing the dosage of the medication until it is discontinued. Other medications, such as clonidine, which is often used to treat high blood pressure, can aid in the management of opiate withdrawal effects. Healthcare practitioners in the United States prescribe buprenorphine-naloxone, buprenorphine, or methadone under specified, legally controlled, and supervised settings to alleviate withdrawal symptoms from opioid analgesics. Injectable medications administered once a month by a medical professional may assist recovering addicts in avoiding opiate use. Buprenorphine and naltrexone are examples of such drugs used in detox.

Withdrawal from sedative and anti-anxiety medications. Long-term usage of prescription anti-anxiety or sedative medications may require weeks of gradual tapering. Due to withdrawal symptoms, it may take very long for your body to adjust to reduced dosages of the medication and eventually become accustomed to not taking any. You may require additional medications to stabilize your mood, manage the latter stages of tapering, or alleviate your anxiety. You must collaborate closely with your healthcare professional.

Stimulant withdrawal. The Food and Drug Administration of the United States has not approved or recognized any medications to manage stimulant withdrawal. Typically, treatment focuses on going off the medication and alleviating withdrawal symptoms, including insomnia, fatigue, and depression.

Medication

In order to prevent a recurrence, medications are often used to ease symptoms of withdrawal, rendering them more tolerable. Your physician can also prescribe drugs that reduce the desire to use prescription drugs, thereby assisting you in remaining sober.

Counseling And Therapy

Individual, group and family counseling can be provided by a registered drug addiction counselor or another specialist in addiction. This will assist you with the following:

  • Determine the causes of prescription drug misuse, including an underlying mental health disorder or relationship issues.
  • Learn the skills necessary to resist urges, avoid drug misuse, and assist in preventing the resurgence of prescription drug issues.
  • Discover techniques for fostering positive connections.
  • Identify opportunities to engage in healthful activities unrelated to drugs.
  • Learn the actions to take in the event of a relapse.

Assessment

The physician will do regular checks to ensure that the patient has not resumed prescription medication abuse. If you take medicine to manage your addiction, you must also undergo an assessment. The physician evaluates the effectiveness of the recommended drug.

Therapy for Prescription Drug Addiction

Therapy is an effective method for treating drug addiction since it emphasizes the core issues that contribute to drug abuse and aids in the development of relapse prevention skills. For the therapy to be successful, you must be honest with yourself and the therapist to discover a workable solution.

What benefits does therapy offer

Trauma and stress are two of the major components of prescription drug addiction. These problems are usually difficult to manage, prompting many individuals to depend on further drug use to get through the day. Fortunately, some therapies specifically address these risk factors, such as:

  • Discovering or recognizing undesirable routines and possible triggers
  • Applying mindfulness methods
  • Talk-therapy

Types of Therapy

There are various methods of therapy for prescription medication addiction, including individual and group-based therapies, such as:

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

CBT enables you to notice negative thought processes, feelings, and events that increase your urge to use prescription medicines. You will begin to switch healthy ideas and actions to harmful ones.

Building healthier internal experiences and coping techniques are essential in the treatment of prescription drug addiction since negative emotions and thoughts can result in relapse.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is frequently combined with individual therapy to give an outlet where you can receive support from individuals who are experiencing similar difficulties. This form of emotional support reduces the bad feelings linked with drug dependence.

Group therapy enhances a variety of interpersonal skills, including communication and effective conflict resolution, boosts self-esteem, and reduces feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Therapy has no drawbacks, making it the most accessible and advantageous component of treatment for long-term stability, better health, and quality of life.

Family Therapy

Since addiction influences your ties with your family members and your family members and loved ones can influence your addiction, it may be beneficial to include them in your care plan. Your family could provide friendly surroundings that encourage you to remain sober and aid in your rehabilitation.

Contingency Management

In contingency management, favorable behaviors that keep you off prescription medicines are reinforced with rewards. These incentives may include cash prizes or vouchers redeemable for products and services. When you achieve a goal, like continuous treatment participation and length of time you remain sober, you receive rewards.

Preventing Prescription Drug Abuse

In light of current drug misuse statistics, the federal government is giving state and local governments greater access to prevention services for prescription drug addiction. Preventing prescription medication addiction is a crucial component of any treatment, but individual responsibility and discipline are essential.

Advice For Preventing Drug Addiction

Here are some helpful suggestions for preventing drug addiction:

  • Ensure that you are receiving the right medication.
  • Safely stow away medication
  • Consult with your physician
  • Read medication use instructions precisely
  • Learn how your medication works
  • Never use someone else’s prescribed medication
  • Only order medicines from a reputable online pharmacy.

Help For Prescription Drug Addiction

Without effective, early medical intervention for your prescription medication addiction, this problem has the potential to worsen over time, causing you to disregard your career, hobbies, social life, family, and friends, among other things.

If you believe you require prescription drug rehab, most luxury treatment centers or executive rehabs will provide you with a free first examination of your addiction to assist us to identify your prescription drug misuse symptoms and choose your next steps. The no-obligation assessment is an opportunity to discuss your addiction with an expert, professional therapist at the residential rehab or inpatient rehab facility closest to you, and to determine how we can assist you.

If you believe you have developed an issue with prescription drug addiction, you must immediately seek professional assistance. You might apply the following extra suggestions to cope with the earliest phases of prescription drug addiction:

  • Acknowledge that you have a prescription medication abuse problem.
  • Be open with your family and friends about your prescription drug addiction; family and friends’ support is vital to the prescription drug addiction recovery and rehabilitation process.
  • Avoid temptations and harmful influences whenever possible.
  • Understand that the process of acquiring abstinence from prescription medicines will be difficult, and be prepared to make significant life changes.

Resource References:

  1. Prescription drug abuse. Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20376818.
  2. What kind of therapy is recommended for prescription drug addiction? WebMD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/addiction-treatment-recovery/prescription/therapy-for-prescription-drug-addiction.
  3. Prescription drug addiction treatment. Priory. Available at: https://www.priorygroup.com/addiction-treatment/prescription-drug-addiction-treatment.
  4. Prescription drug abuse: Prevention and treatment options. Available at: https://www.psycom.net/prescription-drug-abuse.

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