Using Drug Rehab for Help With Prescription Drug Abuse

Prescription drug abuse is more of a problem in the United States than heroin, cocaine and other prescription substances combined. Some estimates put prescription drug abuse for non-medical reasons at nearly 20% of the population. The drugs most often abused are painkillers such as Vicodin, Oxycontin, Valium and stimulants. The aging baby boomers are just as susceptible to prescription drug abuse as teenagers.

Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment Centers

If a loved one requires prescription drug rehab help, families will need to look for treatment centers that specialize in this type of abuse. Going through detox for prescription medication can be more complicated than other drugs. It needs to be done in a safe and controlled environment. It’s important that the facility have medical staff available 24 hours a day, should any medical complications arise during withdrawal. Simply discontinuing the use of the medication is not an option. The withdrawal symptoms can be severe and dangerous, with patients experiencing seizures that can lead to death.

Prescription drug rehab help should be done by a qualified facility that specializes in prescription drug detox. Getting off prescription medications can be difficult and certain protocols must be followed to ensure the patient’s safety. This is especially true with certain types of prescription pain medications. Once the person is off the medication, they still have the issue of pain to deal with, along with everything else that is part of a detox and rehab program.

After Withdrawal from Prescription Drug Abuse

When the patient has gone through withdrawal the next step is to move into therapy. This helps them to address the emotional side of addiction. This is usually done through one on one therapy. While in therapy the patient will have a medical doctor addressing their physical condition to help the patient find ways to handle the pain without the use of prescribed medications. In therapy they will look at issues that led to the prescription drug addiction. With the help of cognitive and behavior therapy they learn to see things differently and handle problems in a more productive manner.

People addicted to pain medication have special needs. Rehab will assess the physical problems that led them to abuse pain medications. In many cases a physical therapist will be needed to help assess their condition and come up with an exercise plan to help rebuild muscle strength, which in turn helps to reduce pain. They may also use different types of therapy such as hot and cold therapy, electro-magnetic stimulation and massage therapy. Learning how to conquer pain and learning to find ways to live with pain in a drug free environment will be an important part of recovery. In recent years pain medication addiction has become more acceptable and understood as we see former and current athletes entering rehab to deal with their pain medication addictions.

Benefits of Group Therapy for Prescription Drug Dependence

In time, the patient enters the prescription drug rehab therapy portion of rehab. Here, with the help of a therapist guiding the conversation, the addict discovers that they are not alone in their addiction. Group therapy dynamics can be a powerful healing tool. It provides the individual, who needs prescription drug rehab help, to learn from others and find new ways to handle their pain and addiction problems in a much more constructive way. Group therapy is an effective way to regain self esteem as the patient finds that they too can help others in the group.

Group therapy can be continued upon leaving rehab through the many organizations available for recovering addicts. Many of them follow the 12 step program which has helped millions of people living with addictions. Continuing to see a therapist after being released is also recommended. Physio therapy can continue on an outpatient basis to help the addict deal effectively with their pain in a drug free environment.

Prescription Drug Family Therapy

The last issue that will be addressed while receiving prescription drug rehab help is family issues. By the time a person reaches the point of getting help for their addiction, their family dynamic is often dysfunctional. Therapists will have the family join private sessions in order to help everyone get back on speaking terms and allow all to express how they feel.

This is the time when they can talk about any hurt feelings they may have. In this safe environment the family is more likely to open up and discuss all issues. The goal is to get past problems out in the open, deal with them and then move forward leaving the past behind. This helps the family to function again without grudges and hurt feelings simmering under the surface. The family heals and becomes a functional and supportive unit again.