Addiction | Prescription Drugs

Addiction | Prescription Drugs

Prescription drug addiction stems from the misuse of prescribed medications by doctors and also sought illegally on the streets for recreational use. More than 6 million people, 12 and over, have been reported to abuse prescription pills each month the United States. There are a number of common prescription drugs that are abused and most require a treatment intervention to recover from the physical addiction and psychological effects.

Common Prescription Pain Relievers Abused

• Codeine
• Fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic, Fentora)
• Hydrocodone (Hysingla ER, Zohydro ER)
• Hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Vicodin)
• Hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Exalgo)
• Meperidine (Demerol)
• Methadone (Dolophine, Methadose)

Common Prescription Psychiatric Drugs Abused

• Barbiturates: pentobarbital (Nembutal^®), phenobarbital (Luminal^®)
• Benzodiazepines: alprazolam (Xanax^®), chlorodiazepoxide (Limbitrol^®), diazepam (Valium^®), lorazepam (Ativan^®), triazolam (Halicon^®)
• Sleep Medications: eszopiclone (Lunesta^®), zaleplon (Sonata^®), zolpidem (Ambien^®)

Common Over The Counter (OCT) Drugs Abused

• Dextromethorphan
• Ephedrine
• Caffeine Pills
• Laxatives
• Pseudoephedrine
• Motion Sickness Pills

Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment Options

Addiction to any of these substances outlined can have a variety of effects and withdrawal symptoms. Ultimately receiving an initial assessment to discuss the specific substance and length of time used, will help provide a baseline to the best recommendations for treatment.  The levels of care offered are detox, inpatient, residential, individual therapy, and sober living options. Depending on the individuals case, there are a number of treatment options that are available to help someone recovery from prescription drug abuse.