Addiction to prescription drugs can strike anyone, including those millions of people who take the medications because of a legitimate illness, as well as the significant percentage of the population that uses them improperly.    The bottom line: whatever the reason a person starts taking prescription drugs, their addictive properties often make it hard to stop.

The most addictive prescription drugs are painkillers.  These opiate-based drugs including Vicodin, OxyContin, Methadone, Percocet, Hydrocodone, Lortab and other medications that were designed to help those suffering from serious chronic pain, but instead have become the source of a dependency to the drug.  Addiction to these opiates has the power to destroy lives and tear families apart.

What follows is vital information about prescription drug addiction for those who think they may be addicted and their families.

What are the signs of prescription drug addiction?

As a friend or family member, it is important to stay vigilant and watch for any of the following signs with individuals who you believe may be addicted to prescription drugs:  stealing to pay for drugs, doctor shopping to find physicians willing to prescribe the medication, withdrawal from social groups, poor performance at work and school, and trouble with law enforcement. More advice about prescription drug abuse is available at the National Institute of Health.

How to help the individual with a prescription drug addiction

In order to defeat their addiction, an individual is strongly advised to consider going through treatment at an inpatient drug rehab center.  In rehab, the individual will learn how to cope psychologically without prescription drugs, and rebuild the life that has been taken from them.  But before rehab can begin, the individual must first complete the drug detox process.  Detox allows all the harmful toxins associated with the drug to leave the body so that rehab can be effective.  Traditional opiate detox can take several days to complete and has generally meant going through withdrawal symptoms as a result of stopping the drug intake into the body. Much more information about drug rehab is available online as well, and consultations with professional counselors are often free of charge.

What happens during opiate withdrawal?

When an individual stops taking prescription painkillers (during the detox process), he or she will likely experience opiate withdrawal symptoms.  These symptoms can become extremely uncomfortable and may include the following:  irritability, depression, sweats, chills, shakes and general nausea.  Depending on the nature of the person’s addiction, these symptoms can be seriously dangerous, which is often the cause for continued drug use or relapse.  For these reasons, opiate withdrawal is strongly recommended to be supervised properly by a medical professional.

Is there any way to avoid withdrawal symptoms?

While traditional detox procedures always include some level of withdrawal experience, there is a newer detoxification process known as rapid detox that promises the speedy removal of opiates from the system without the withdrawal symptoms.

What is rapid detox?

An alternative form of detoxification, rapid detox, takes place under the supervision of a physician in a hospital setting.  The individual is placed under anesthesia and treated with drugs which are supposed to assist in easing the individual off of the opiate in question. While Rapid Detox has many advocates, there is a growing movement away from Rapid Detox because of the inherent risks and dangers associated with the procedure. The side effects of being under anesthesia can be severe, and the rapid detox process tends to “overlook” many of the deeply psychological problems associated with drug addiction.

According to a study performed by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), rapid detox is not more effective in relieving opiate withdrawal or retaining people in treatment than other commonly used methods. (specifically, “Rapid opioid detoxification with opioid antagonist induction using general anesthesia has emerged as an expensive, potentially dangerous, unproven approach to treat opioid dependence.”). Another study by Columbia University Medical Center showed that “Rapid Detox Fails to Show Advantages Over Other Methods” (citation).

What is the best way to overcome a Prescription Drug Addiction?

The million dollar question is how one can overcome a prescription drug or opiate addiction. Unfortunately, there are no easy answers. Some people are able to use the 12-step method and recovery powerfully. Others opt to begin with an inpatient drug rehab program and then continue aftercare through outpatient treatment, sober living or regular visits with therapists.  The options do not have to be as daunting as they may sound. While the prescription drug detox can be frightening, new treatments like Suboxone detox and Buprenorphine are allowing people to safely and comfortably withdraw from opiate dependency and go on to live completely normal lives.  The best course of action is to consult with a professional and/or do some research on the web to find communities of those who have recovered successfully. Often the best advice can be taken from those who have been through the difficult process and emerged triumphantly to live happy, joyous and free lives. 

Article is sponsored and presented by: Meditox