Prescription medication is supposed to help get you well when your mind or body isn’t behaving. That is what we are taught. That is when they are taken as directed by the prescribing doctor. This is true for most medications. However, there are some that doctors prescribe that can be dangerous and even lead to addiction. This is most true of opiates, which were prescribed before doctors were aware of their addictive properties.
Also, there are some drugs that are prescribed that people have found give them a “high,” and the drugs start becoming used in a way they are not intended. There are several in this category, but opioids remain the most misused. There are dangers of prescription drug abuse. If you or a loved one is misusing prescription drugs, seek help from Rockland Recovery’s prescription drug addiction treatment program. Contact us by calling 855.732.4842 or completing our online form.
How Addiction Starts
You have been in an accident, and the pain is nearly unbearable. Your doctor prescribes you some medication to help ease the pain in these early stages, intending to lower the dose or discontinue the medication completely once your body has had a chance to heal. The relief you feel is good. Unfortunately, the medication is once your body quickly builds up a tolerance. Before long, you find that the prescribed dose isn’t working as well any longer. You double a dose here and there to get relief.
As tolerance builds up, this increased dosage is needed more often. You don’t realize that your mind and body are undergoing subtle changes that mimic needing this drug. The pain is real, but it shouldn’t be lasting as long as your brain convinces you it is. You have begun to experience one of the first dangers of prescription drug abuse, that of tolerance.
Your doctor feels it is time to wean you off this drug. Your body, now tolerant, goes into a state of creating extra pain to try and convince you that the medication is still necessary. One of the dangers of prescription drug abuse is addiction. Some people may seek out a second, or even third, doctor to try and get more prescriptions. This is to keep the detox symptoms away. If you can’t get a doctor to prescribe the medication, you may seek other means of getting it.
Dangers of Prescription Drug Abuse
The next step in the dangers of prescription drug abuse is to seek illegal means of obtaining drugs. If the drug itself can’t be found, a substitution such as heroin may be your next step. Heroin is a much more addictive and dangerous drug. Unfortunately, it is widely available and cheap. Individuals addicted to prescription painkillers may turn to heroin only to find themselves substituting one addiction for another. Before long, what started as a means to deal with pain ends up feeding the addiction. Because of heroin’s chemical makeup, it’s almost immediately addictive as it alters brain chemistry. When someone is already addicted, heroin can lead to further complications. Also, the withdrawal symptoms experienced during heroin detox are more severe.
Benefits of a Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment Program
When you choose to enter into a prescription drug addiction treatment program at Rockland Recovery, you will begin to experience the benefits almost immediately.
Some of the benefits of addiction treatment include:
- A safe environment – As you begin your recovery in our treatment program, you will be closely monitored by our team of experts to ensure your safety and comfort.
- Medication-assisted treatment – At Rockland Recovery, our team is qualified to administer medication to help you overcome potentially painful withdrawal symptoms.
- Time away from daily life – It is often best for people who are entering recovery to have time away from the stress and pressure of daily life. Our prescription drug addiction treatment program provides the chance for you to step away from your everyday life and focus on your health and well-being.
When you’re ready to start your recovery journey, reach out to our Rockland Recovery team.
Avoid Dangers of Prescription Drug Abuse at Rockland Recovery
What started as a way to make it through a difficult time may have ended up causing an even greater danger for you. Don’t let it control the rest of your life. You can get through this with our help.
If you or a loved one has fallen victim to the dangers of prescription drug abuse, reach out to our Rockland Recovery team today. We offer gender-specific men’s and women’s rehab programs. The sooner you get help, the sooner you’ll get on the road to a drug-free life. Learn more about Rockland Recovery’s rehab center in Weymouth, MA, by completing our online form or calling 855.732.4842. Our team is standing by and ready to help.
