Clinically Reviewed by Dr. Kate Smith
Prescription drugs are exceptionally common in the United States. Millions of Americans take prescribed medication for mental health disorders like anxiety and PTSD or to treat severe pain, among other reasons. However, there is a genuine risk of becoming dependent on prescription drugs which can lead to a need for professional substance abuse treatment programs.
Using prescription drugs outside the recommended dose can lead to addiction, but many medications disrupt thinking, leading people to take more medication than prescribed. A prescription drug addiction treatment program near Boston can help you overcome issues related to prescription drug dependency.
How Does Prescription Drug Abuse Start?
When used as prescribed, most prescription drugs are safe to use. They can be helpful and even necessary to minimize life-threatening health conditions. Even when used as directed, addiction can form with some types of drugs.
Some of the most commonly abused prescription drugs include:
- Depressants such as barbiturates, benzos, and sleep medications
- Opioids such as codeine, morphine, methadone, fentanyl, and pain relievers
- Stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamines
You may be prescribed medications to help with pain relief, management of anxiety, or help with sleep disorders. If you use those drugs outside your prescription requirements, you may develop a prescription drug addiction, leading to numerous health complications.
What Risk Factors Can Lead to Prescription Drug Rehab?
There are many risk factors that can play a role in developing an addiction to prescription drugs. Some people may be more likely to develop an addiction than others, and it’s important to be aware of the risks.
Risk factors for prescription drug abuse include:
- A family history of addiction or mental illness
- A personal history of addiction or mental illness
- A history of trauma or abuse
- Peer pressure or social influences
- Ease of access to drugs
If you have any of these risk factors, it’s essential to be extra cautious when taking prescription medications. Follow your doctor’s orders and never take more medication than prescribed.
These drugs can be highly addictive. They can cause dependence to form, a condition in which you cannot stop using because your body and brain have become reliant on the drugs. What makes prescription drug addiction so problematic is that part of the condition involves denial of the condition. That’s because you may need to use those medications for the prescribed reason.
Addiction forms when a person continues to use a drug compulsively, even while recognizing the dangers of doing so. Prescription drug abuse can cause numerous health complications, including a slowed or too fast heart rate, organ function breakdown, and even sudden death. Overdoses are possible as well. Just because these drugs are prescribed doesn’t make them safe to use outside of those limitations.
How Do You Get Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment?
Prescription drugs may be necessary for your situation. If that’s the case, use them only according to your doctor’s directions. If you feel craving and withdrawal symptoms due to cutting back to just this use, you know you’ve developed an unhealthy dependence on these drugs. That is when prescription drug addiction treatment becomes so important.
Our team can offer help. If you are hooked on prescription drugs in Boston, reach out to our team to learn more about the treatment options we can offer, including the support we can provide to you for reclaiming your health. There are solutions for your pain. You don’t have to live with prescription drug addiction.
To get started, reach out to our team. Let our prescription drug addiction treatment program near Boston. MA provide you with support. With available sober homes for both men and women with treatment close by, we can help you turn the page on the complications you’re facing today. Learn more about our programs, including:
Reach Out to Greater Boston Addiction Centers
Live Sober
Live Connected
Greater Boston Addiction Centers
Substance Abuse Treatment
