Prescription drugs, including depressants, painkillers, and stimulants, can be beneficial for people who are struggling with symptoms of physical illnesses or mental health disorders. When used as directed, they can improve a person’s symptoms. But when these medications aren’t taken as prescribed, there is a high risk that someone can develop an addiction to prescription drugs.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), prescription drugs can cause physical dependence, which, in turn, may lead to chronic use or addiction. When someone uses these drugs for an extended period or takes larger doses over time, this can make it harder for the person to feel good when not taking them. This can lead to intense, uncomfortable cravings and withdrawal symptoms that make it even more difficult to stop using.
Overcoming a prescription drug addiction is difficult without help from qualified professionals. Southstone Recovery Center offers a partial hospitalization program (PHP) for women age 18 and older who are struggling with addictions to painkillers and other prescription drugs.
Signs & Symptoms of Prescription Drug Addiction
Signs and symptoms of chronic prescription drug use often vary from person to person and depend on the kind of drug and the amount being consumed.
Prescription drug addiction signs and symptoms include:
- Obtaining prescriptions from multiple doctors
- Preoccupation with taking prescription drugs
- Disorientation
- Confusion
- Loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable
- Declining school or work performance
- Needing to take more of the drug to get the desired effect
- Poor hygiene
- Feeling numb or detached from one’s emotions
- Lack of motivation
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Impaired coordination
- Tremors or shakiness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Change in sleep patterns
- Change in eating habits
- Borrowing or stealing money
If you’ve displayed any of these signs or experienced any of these symptoms, it is important to consider seeking professional help at an established prescription drug addiction treatment center.
Prescription Drug Addiction Statistics
The following statistics about prescription drug use and addiction among people who live in the United States are from the National Institute on Drug Abuse:
- In 2020, 16.1 million people, or 5.8% of the population, reported misusing prescription psychotherapeutic drugs.
- Among young people age 12 and older in 2020, roughly 758,000 people, or .03%, struggled with an addiction to prescription stimulants.
- In 2020, approximately 16,416 people died from an overdose related to prescription drug abuse.
- In 2021, 4.4% of high school seniors reported misusing prescription drugs.
Possible Effects of Prescription Drug Addiction
Misusing prescription drugs can take a toll on an individual’s physical and mental health and diminish their quality of life. Potential effects of prescription drug addiction for women may include:
- Onset or worsening of other mental health conditions
- Decline in physical health, including organ failure
- Social isolation or withdrawal
- Unemployment due to trouble performing well in a work environment
- Memory loss
- Legal troubles
- Damaged relationships with friends, family members, and spouses
- Engaging in risky behaviors
- Having thoughts of or attempting suicide
The first step in getting help is always the hardest. But when you reach out to a qualified prescription drug addiction treatment center like Southstone Recovery Center, you can get the help you need to lay the foundation for long-term recovery.
Benefits of Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment
If you’re struggling with a prescription drug addiction, you may feel overwhelmed and hopeless. It can also leave you feeling alone and desperate for help, even if it seems like help will never come.
With professional treatment, however, you can regain control of your life and learn how to function without the use of prescription painkillers, opioids, or stimulants. The experts at Southstone Recovery Center can teach you the skills and strategies necessary to help you stay sober, handle triggers, and avoid relapse.
Our treatment center is a safe and supportive space for women who want to overcome a prescription drug addiction. You’ll have the opportunity to speak with other women who have faced similar struggles, making your recovery journey feel less isolating.
Therapies Used in Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment
Each woman who takes part in prescription drug addiction treatment at our treatment center receives a personalized care plan that reflects her needs, strengths, and goals. Your plan will be unique to you and may include elements such as:
- Basic medical care
- Medication management services
- Individual therapy
- Family therapy
- Group therapy
- Experiential therapies
During your stay at Southstone Recovery Center, you’ll also spend a lot of time participating in group therapy sessions. These sessions cover a wide range of topics, including:
- Relapse prevention basics
- Physical wellness
- Triggers, cravings, and avoiding relapse
- Stress and emotional well-being
- Planning for sobriety
- Educational and vocational goals
- Effects of substance use on mental health
We may also incorporate elements of motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), DBT-informed therapy, redecision therapy, recreational therapy, and 12-Step programming into your treatment.
Choosing the Right Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment Center
Making the choice to pursue treatment for a prescription drug addiction is a brave one that can yield positive results.
The challenge lies in finding the right place to get treatment. To help you find the treatment center that is right for you, consider the following questions:
- Does this treatment center offer the personalized care I need?
- Is this level of care right for me, or should I look for a higher level of support?
- Will I get to work closely with a team of addiction treatment specialists and other healthcare professionals?
- What will my day-to-day while in treatment look like? Are there different services available to me that will help me make positive changes?
- What happens once I’m discharged? Will I be given a thorough aftercare plan that will help me stay sober after my time in treatment is over?
Our treatment place is located on a 200-acre campus that features a 5-acre lake for fishing, art and pottery studios, a gymnasium for sports like basketball and volleyball, and outdoor recreation areas for activities such as gardening, hiking, football, and soccer. We offer basic elements of care in addition to recreational therapies to help women navigate treatment with ease.
Prescription drug addiction is a difficult diagnosis. But when you seek care at a premier treatment facility like Southstone Recovery Center, you can achieve lasting recovery.
This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at Southstone Recovery Center.