PRESCRIPTION DRUG ADDICTION
The medication that is meant to help you shouldn’t kill you. If you or someone you care about is struggling with prescription drug addiction, you’re not alone; but you do need help. Call Recovery Unplugged today.
AMERICA’S PILL ADDICTION
The United States has a collective prescription drug addiction. Between opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines, tranquilizers, stimulants and others, over 55 percent of Americans regularly take a prescription medicine. Over the past twenty years, the number of prescriptions filled for American adults and children rose 85 percent, from approximately 2.4 billion to 4.5 billion a year. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that an estimated 54 million Americans have used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons at least once in their lifetime. Misuse and abuse are the most common pathway to addiction to prescription drugs, which is why these drugs should be taken only within guidelines administered by an experienced and qualified medical professional.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health reveals that misuse and abuse is rampant across all types of prescription drugs:
- Painkiller Abuse – 3.3 Million
- Tranquilizer Abuse – Two Million
- Stimulant Abuse – 1.7 Million
- Sedative Abuse – 500,000
Many of these cases will eventually follow the path to overdose and subsequent fatality.
WHAT HAS PRESCRIPTION DRUG ADDICTION DONE TO YOU?
If you’re like the millions of others who struggle with prescription addiction, you don’t want to hear about the macro numbers. You only know that the pills that were supposed to help you have only made your health worse and have taken over your life. Maybe they’ve cost you your job; maybe they’ve landed you in jail; maybe they’ve completely estranged you from your family; or maybe they’ve just rendered you unable to get out of bed in the morning. Wherever prescription drug addiction has taken you, Recovery Unplugged is ready to help you come back home. Recovery Unplugged offers detox, music-based rehab and extensive medical care services to guide you or your loved one toward lasting freedom from the endless cycle of relapse and withdrawal.
SIGNS OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE
For patients who are taking prescription drugs for a legitimate medical condition, it can be difficult to determine the line between misuse and acceptable use. Physical and psychological indicators will vary based upon what type of prescription they’re using; however, some common universal behavioral signs can include:
- Deception and Secrecy Regarding Use
- Taking More Pills or More Frequently Than Directed
- Indignation and Rationalization When Confronted about Use
- Increased Isolation and Social Withdrawal
- Watching the Clock Obsessively
- Taking Others’ Prescriptions or Buying them on the Street
Loved ones and close friends of prescription users are uniquely empowered to identify potential addiction and intervene. If you suspect that someone you care about is abusing their prescriptions, or has started taking these drugs recreationally, get help now.