Prescribed Drug Addiction Treatment
Prescription drug addiction is on the rise in the UK. The truth is prescription drug dependency can affect anyone, regardless of sex, age, education level, or social status. One reason for the increase in dependency is the easy access to legal drugs, including sleeping pills and tranquilisers that have the potential to be highly addictive.
Addictions can be caused by a physical dependence, where stopping the drug causes physical illness, or a psychological dependence, where an individual has a strong desire to repeat the feeling of euphoria they get when using drugs.
Prescription Drug Treatment Can Help You Get Your Life Back on Track
If you are using prescription drugs, despite the fact they are having a negative impact on your body, mind, and/ or life, you may be struggling with dependency and be in need of professional help. When you are unable to stop yourself from routinely taking prescription drugs, even though you know it is harmful, you are clearly showing symptoms of dependency.
In this situation, medically assisted detoxification and counselling can help you put an end to your prescription drug dependency.
Complete Our Online Addiction Assessment Form
At Western Counselling, we understand that starting down the road to recovery can be an emotionally trying time for you. This is why our experienced Admissions Liaison, at our drug and alcohol treatment centre in Weston-Super-Mare, offers an online assessment to help you take the first important step into recovery.
Possible Symptoms of Prescription Drug Addiction
Although symptoms will vary from one person to another, the most common symptoms of physical addiction occur when a person has to go without the drug. They often feel symptoms of withdrawal, such as nausea, diarrhoea, cold sweats, and shaking. If you have a psychological dependence, withdrawal may make you feel depressed, irritable, anxious, or unusually tired.
As your dependency to a drug becomes stronger, you will need more and more of the drug to achieve the desired effect. In time, drug use will take over every aspect of your life, so that you neglect everything from friends and family to work, study, and your hobbies. You may begin to feel lonely due to feelings of guilt or shame.
It’s important to understand that many people are able to function rather well for quite a while even though they are taking prescription drugs. It’s only when they realise that they can no longer live their life without taking the drug that they understand there is a problem.
A wide variety of prescription drugs can be addictive including:
- Stimulants
- Amphetamines
- Adderall
- Ritalin
- Concerta
- Opioids
- Pethidine
- Codeine
- Co-codamol
- Dihydrocodeine (DF118)
- Morphine
- Benzodiazepines
- Xanax
- Ativan
- Barbituates
- Tranquilisers
- Pregabalins
- Antihistamines
- Pseudo-ephedrine
Supporting You Through the Stages of Recovery
The first, and often the hardest, step to recovery is both admitting and accepting that you have a problem. After accepting that you have a problem, it’s time to ask for help. To treat prescription drug dependency, you will need detox and psychotherapy. Although some people do find it difficult to achieve, the primary goal of treatment is abstinence.
You may wish to also contact the Pills Anonymous website for further information and support. Western Counselling have years of experience in recovery from prescribed drug addiction and are here to help.
FAQ’s
Q: What type of therapy is used to treat prescription drug dependency?
A: To help you embrace a healthier lifestyle and manage without the use of legal drugs, drug dependency treatment is based on an intensive programme of individual and group counselling.
At Western Counselling, our experienced therapists will encourage you to come to terms with your addiction before helping you work through these problems. To do this, you will work on developing new coping methods that facilitate adopting a positive attitude and self-esteem building. When adjusting to living a life without prescription drugs, the support of your family and friends is crucial. However, it can be stressful to make these changes and open to those you love about your problems.
Q: Will I be admitted to the clinic?
A: If you are physically addicted to a drug and unable to stop taking it, you may need a more supportive and intensive inpatient treatment programme, which typically lasts between four and twelve/twenty four weeks.
Q: How does detoxification work?
A: The goal of detoxification is to decrease the unpleasant symptoms of withdrawal. These symptoms tend to be at their worst during the first few days of treatment, though they do quickly improve.
When you have a physical addiction, the first step in the treatment process involves a medically assisted detoxification or withdrawal. This is done by replacing your drug of choice with another drug, then tapering down the dosage between 9-28days. If this is done as an outpatient or at home, the process may take longer.
Q: How does abstinence work?
A: Treatment is structured in regards to abstinence. The primary goal is to put a complete end to your drug use, rather than simply decreasing the amount you are using.