Prescription Drug Rehab

When most people picture drug addiction, they are probably thinking of illegal substances like heroin or cocaine, or newer threats like the lab-made cannabinoids generally known as spice. They might not think that prescription medications like painkillers and anti-depressants are as harmful or addictive. Unfortunately, many people do become addicted to prescription drugs, they can be every bit as dangerous.

The USA has experienced what has been described as an ‘epidemic’ of prescription drug abuse, for example. In 2019, nearly 50,000 people died from opioid overdoses including prescription painkillers.1 The situation in the UK is not quite so bad but is still a serious problem.

A 2019 Public Health England (PHE) review found that nearly 12 million adults in England were on prescription medications and concluded that the widespread prescription of drugs including opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines and sleeping pills needed to change.

Symptoms of Prescription Drug Addiction

Not everyone who uses prescription drugs is addicted to them of course, and the majority use medications for legitimate reasons and as directed. There can be dangers even when this is the case, however. A government report said: “Considerable concern has been raised regarding prescribing rates of opioids in the UK and the awareness of healthcare professionals and patients of the risks of dependence and addiction.” It added that long-term use of opioids could lead to addiction, even when used at “therapeutic doses”.3

The risks can be even higher if you misuse the drug. This could include taking higher doses or using the drug more frequently, using other people’s prescription drugs or using these medications recreationally.

The symptoms of prescription drug addiction can vary depending on the medication involved and other factors but some general signs to look out for include:

• Taking higher doses or using more regularly than directed
• Increased tolerance (i.e. the drug has less effect)
• Anxiety when you don’t have or use the drug
• A compulsion to continue taking the drug
• Seeking out the drug through unofficial or illegal channels
• Being dishonest with doctors to get more medication
• Withdrawal symptoms when you don’t use the drug

Addictive Prescription Drugs we Treat

There are 5 main types of prescription drugs that we treat. These are:

• Opiates – these are typically used in pain management and include drugs such as Morphine and Codeine.
• Stimulants – which speed up the central nervous system, giving a feeling of alertness and helping some people focus through drugs.
• Sedatives – typically used to help people get to sleep or as a tranquiliser through drugs such as temazepam.
• Hypnotics – these are used for anaesthetic purposes, or to induce sleep.
• Anti-anxiety drugs – which can help with anxiety by slowing the heart or producing a tranquilising effect.

There are many individual medications within these broad categories, which may go by brand, generic or ‘street’ names (when traded illegally and used recreationally). Some of the most commonly encountered at rehab include Percocet, OxyContin/oxycodone, Lortab and Vicodin.

What Happens at Rehab?

There are a number of elements to an addiction to prescription drugs. You may build up a tolerance to the drug, meaning you need more and more of it for the same effect. As your system gets used to the drug being present, it can come to rely on the chemicals involved.

This physical dependency can result in withdrawal symptoms when the drug is removed or even reduced. You may also develop a psychological dependency on the drug. In common with other addictions, a prescription drug addiction is characterised by a compulsion to continue using, even when you know there might be negative consequences.

Long-term use of these drugs can also change the way your brain works, particularly in areas such as pleasure and reward.

Rehab aims to treat all these different parts of an addiction through a comprehensive programme of treatments tailored to fit your own unique situation.

This will involve a detox to get the drugs out of your system and a programme of evidence-led therapies and other treatments designed to address the root causes and psychological aspects of your addiction. All this is delivered in a calm and secure rehab environment by a team of dedicated and experienced recovery professionals.

Prescription drug detox and therapy

Long-term use of many prescription drugs can lead to a dependency requiring detoxification, more commonly known simply as detox.

This is when you process the drugs out of your system and it can be accompanied by a range of physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. These can vary widely but can be severe and sometimes dangerous, particularly with opioid-based painkillers.

It is always wisest to undergo detox in a medically supervised environment like rehab if at all possible, as you can receive medical care and intervention if needed.

At the same time, a thorough and holistic rehab programme will look at the underlying causes and psychological aspects of your addiction. These can be explored through techniques such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling and group therapy. You will also learn techniques and strategies for dealing with cravings and triggers to avoid relapsing back to the drug once you leave.

Support and aftercare for drug addiction

Rehab gives you the help and environment you need to quit and the tools and knowledge you need to steer clear of prescription drugs and other harmful substances moving forward.

Every person in recovery will have challenges moving forward though, which is why we provide a year’s free tailored aftercare. This can provide extra support in the weeks and months after you complete your treatment, which can be particularly risky in terms of relapse.

It’s always best to avoid this situation but if you do relapse, aftercare support can help make sure that this is a setback you get through, rather than the end of your recovery.

Contact us

If you are worried about your prescription drug use or any other substance issue, contact us today for confidential help and advice. Admitting that you have a problem is always a huge step forward and we can talk you through the options, whether rehab ends up being the right way forward for you or not.