Opioids are commonly prescribed because of their effective analgesic, or pain-relieving, properties. Medications that fall within this class—referred to as prescription narcotics—include morphine (e.g., Kadian, Avinza), codeine, oxycodone (e.g., OxyContin, Percodan, Percocet) and related drugs. Morphine, for example, often is used before and after surgical procedures to alleviate severe pain. In addition to their pain-relieving properties, some of these drugs—codeine and diphenoxylate (Lomotil), for example—can be used to relieve coughs and diarrhea. Research shows an association between drug use and traffic accident deaths, lost productivity and poorer academic performance.
How Do You Treat a Prescription Drug Addiction?
This points to the importance of careful management and monitoring of these medications to address stimulant dependency effectively. These medications are highly addictive, particularly when used for long periods, in higher doses than prescribed, or for reasons other than their intended medical purpose. Addiction develops as individuals begin to rely on drugs to cope with emotional or physical pain, leading drug addiction treatment to a cycle of dependency. If you or a loved one is using prescription drugs, you should be aware of the signs of drug abuse.
How many people die from overdoses involving benzodiazepines?
Kaylyn currently supervises our Conduct and Life Intervention Counseling department. Throughout their program, clients work with Kaylyn directly one-on-one in removing toxic people from their lives and rebuilding trust with loved ones. She genuinely loves helping people on their journey to recovery and brings a friendly, down-to-earth vibe to every session. Thomas has worked at EAS for over 12 years and has held every clinical role in the company.
Medical Professionals
His main objective as a one on one counselor is to ensure that each client has a safe and nonjudgmental space to discuss the issues surrounding their relationship with substances. Carrie’s duties are individually counseling clients weekly throughout their program, helping them rebuild trust with their families and set boundaries. Carrie coordinates with the client in developing their treatment plans for their treatment. Carrie counsels clients with abuse trauma, helps them rebuild their self-worth and assists them in obtaining healthy coping skills. Counseling is the most common treatment for addiction to CNS depressants or stimulants.
Due to the toxic chemicals in these products, even a single use can be dangerous. I’ve had experience with recovery since 1996 and began working in the field in early 2004. Stimulants enhance brain activity, causing an increase in alertness, attention and energy. Opioids attach to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, blocking the perception of pain. The Drug-Free Communities Support Program (DFC) is a federal grant program that provides funding to community-based coalitions that organize to prevent youth substance use. Since the passage of the DFC Act in 1997, the DFC Program has funded more than 2,000 coalitions and currently mobilizes nearly 9,000 community volunteers across the country.
What Are the Withdrawal Effects of a Prescription Drug Addiction?
- Sudden withdrawal can trigger serious side effects, so a health professional should always monitor the process.
- She also gives her time to Tara Home, an end of life/hospice care home at Land of Medicine Buddha in Soquel, Ca.
- Opioids attach to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, blocking the perception of pain.
- Matt is credentialed as CADC-CS (Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor – Clinical Supervisor) through CCAPP (California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals).
- Dylan’s skills are high stress tolerance, critical thinking, great work ethic, good communication skills, and problem solving.
Having multiple health problems and taking multiple drugs can put people at risk of misusing drugs or becoming addicted. Some people fear that they may become addicted to medicines prescribed for medical conditions, such as painkillers prescribed after surgery. But you can reduce your risk by carefully following your health care provider’s instructions on how to take your medicine. If you’re committed to your sobriety but cannot take a break from your daily duties for an inpatient program.
IS MY PARTNER ABUSING DRUGS?
Therefore, physicians should balance the legitimate medical needs of patients with the potential risk for misuse and related harms. Dependence, also called drug tolerance, refers to the body’s response to long-term drug use. If you become dependent on these drugs, you may feel the need to increase the dose to achieve the same effect and might experience withdrawal symptoms if you try to stop or take less of the medication. In recent years, the opioid epidemic in America has caused a dramatic increase in deaths from prescription drug overdoses, killing over 81,000 Americans in 2022 2.
Overcome Addiction at Elevate Addiction Services
- 18.4% or 52 million Americans over the age of 12 have deliberately misused prescription drugs at least once in their lifetime.
- A report from the Lown Institute shows that 42 percent of older adults take five or more prescription medications.
- Do not increase or decrease doses or abruptly stop taking a prescription without consulting a health care provider first.
- Examples of stimulants are dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Dextrostat, ProCentra), lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), methylphenidate (Concerta, Daytrana, Methylin, Ritalin), and a mix of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine (Adderall).
- Prescription medications are meant to treat a variety of health conditions, from pain management to anxiety relief.
- Treating Addiction to Prescription OpioidsSeveral options are available for effectively treating prescription opioid addiction.
At this time, there are no proven medications for the treatment of stimulant addiction. However, NIDA is supporting a number of studies on potential medications for treating stimulant addiction. The two main categories of drug addiction treatment are behavioral and pharmacological. Behavioral treatments encourage patients to stop drug use and teach them how to function without drugs, handle cravings, avoid drugs and situations that could lead to drug use and handle a relapse should it occur. Although many prescription drugs can be abused, there are several classifications of medications that are commonly abused. These medicines manage pain well and can help boost your quality of life when you follow your doctor’s prescription drug abuse directions on taking them.
He has worked for Elevate Addiction Services for over 2 years, and is board-certified in family and addiction medicine. Currently, he is pursuing a fellowship in psychiatry and is affiliated with both UC Irvine and UC Davis. He is interested in General Medicine, Addiction Medicine, Mental Health, and End-of-Life Care (such as palliative and hospice care).