Prescription Drug Rehab

As opposed to illicit drugs — which are sometimes in a raw state like cannabis or cocaine and must be self-dosed — prescribed drugs are as convenient as they could be. They come in a pill, chewable tab or liquid form and are packaged, like foods, in slick boxes and durable, portable little bottles.

Pharmaceuticals and all manner of remedies and medications (both secured and available over-the-counter) have been designed to be taken readily, easily, which is precisely why they are so popular.

This is also the reason that they are popular to take for non-prescribed benefits, simply in order to feel a particular compound's effects in a normal state of bodily health (this is 'recreational' or 'non-medical' use). People also may self-medicate during an illness or while experiencing certain symptoms, but without correct attention from a physician or pharmacist.

In any case, prescription drug abuse is comparable (and only slightly less prevalent) with marijuana abuse, which is one of the most popular illicit drug lifestyles.

The Illusion of Safety

Again, the general convenience and high usability of prescribed drugs (which are so common that adults or children without prescriptions find it easy to pilfer, borrow or buy spare pills from others — who themselves may or may not have been prescribed) turn out to be a significant part of the reason that pills are dangerously easy for abusers or addicts.

Also, there is the fact that the pharmaceutical industry arguably has become too powerful, too influential in the country's overall health care system. The drugs they produce exist within a general atmosphere of safety and officialdom — reinforced by their ubiquitous presence in the media, news headlines, celebrity lives and so forth.

On the other hand, if one examines statistics that show the rise in demand for prescription drug rehab treatment or the rising trend of overdoses, the social illness is also clear. But the risk factors for abusing these prescription drugs or receiving negative effects from them are numerous, and they include:

• Increased availability and access
• Common perception that pills are safe
• Temptation for a 'designer' drug life
• Younger generations raised on pills
• Relative ease of use and transport
• We live in a pharmaceutical culture

A Pill-Popping Culture

The pharmaceuticals marketplace has provided the eager public with a smorgasbord of slickly advertized formulas (despite common jokes about their excessive, awkward disclaimers following the branded drug ads). Any sharp observer notices that most of the ailments these medications target or treat are not necessarily life-threatening, but lifestyle oriented (like Viagra, acne remedies, or pills for 'social anxiety' or hair-loss).

Such social messages and their ramifications lead to a permissive culture toward the quick fix of taking chemical compounds — instead of dealing with certain problems, like sleeping disorders, using holistic approaches that correct and improve one's lifestyle. This state of affairs (the totality of our society's misunderstandings and underestimations of the harm of taking so many medications) are particularly harmful for younger users Many children are simply brought up quaffing pills, accustomed to the simplistic and convenience-obsessed logic of over-medication.

Signs of Abuse and Addiction

Unfortunately, spotting somebody's signs of abuse or dependence upon legitimate medications can be more difficult than in the case of illicit drugs. The effects, potency, reliability, usability and even low price of many prescription drugs make it easier for an addict, for example, to keep their experiences and sensations unknown to others. Somebody can be a 'functional addict' of pharmaceuticals much easier than with illicit drugs, which generally take more time to procure, prepare and take into the body.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, non-official use of prescribed drugs falls into three main classes (opioids for pain, depressants for the central nervous system, to treat psychological conditions, and stimulants). These classes can be used when seeking to identify abuse or addiction. For example, one who may be addicted to pain killers will show associated relaxed effects, while the effects of stimulants have noticeably different somatic signs.

Treatment for Addiction to Pharmaceuticals

A successful treatment for anybody addicted to prescribed drugs must respond to their particular needs, obviously. There are a variety of modalities for rehabilitation available — each person must pick the most effective, with help from doctors. In some cases, a 'dual diagnosis' is appropriate, which means that the patient has a serious psychological problem to sort out as well.

Research has shown that unless the treatment is comprehensive (going to the personal roots of an attachment) it is usually ineffective over the long run, even if physiological attraction to the substance(s) has been resolved. That's why we offer a long term, in-depth and holistic program at our drug rehab center in Florida.