Understanding Prescription Drug Addiction

Prescription drug addiction is a relatively broad category – as many different medications that are commonly prescribed have high addiction potential. The most commonly misused prescription medications belong to one of four categories:

1. Prescription painkillers – such as Vicodin, OxyContin, or codeine
2. Prescription stimulants – such as Adderall, Vyvanse, or Ritalin
3. Prescription benzodiazepines – such as Xanax, Valium, or Klonopin
4. Prescription hypnotics – such as Ambien or Lunesta

These medications are prescribed to treat a number of serious conditions, including anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. But regardless of whether you have a valid diagnosis for taking these medications or not, the potential to become addicted or dependent upon these drugs is very real.

Addiction isn’t a choice. When you take addictive drugs, they create lasting changes in brain structure that make it difficult or impossible for people to stop on their own. Further, there are a myriad of different risk factors that can increase your risk of addiction, including:

• Family history of substance use disorders
• Experiencing trauma
• Combining substances
• Co-occurring mental health disorders

Not everyone who takes prescription drugs will become addicted, but those who do will often need the help of prescription drug rehab in Nashville, TN to recover.

Signs of Prescription Drug Addiction

Determining whether your prescription drug use has become a prescription drug addiction depends on a few key factors. The most common signs of addiction include:

• Taking more than intended, or using prescription drugs for longer than intended
• Growing tolerance to prescription drugs, meaning you need to take more and more to achieve the desired effect
• Craving prescription drugs
• Physical withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking prescription drugs
• Multiple failed attempts to cut down or stop prescription drug use on your own
• Prescription drug use begins to interfere with your work, home, or school responsibilities
• Worsening physical or mental health symptoms as a result of prescription drug use
• Continued prescription drug use despite harmful consequences

People may also show tell-tale signs such as frequently asking their doctor to up their dose or renew their prescription early, seeking out prescription drugs from drug dealers, or trying to convince friends or family members to share their prescriptions.

Importantly, when people begin to seek out prescription drugs from illicit sources, they often aren’t true prescription medications. “Pressed pills” sold by street dealers often look exactly the same as prescription medications, but contain illicit chemicals such as fentanyl or etizolam. This can further complicate achieving recovery, as people are often unaware of the specific drugs they’ve been taking and how they affect the mind and body.

Treating Prescription Drug Addiction

Thankfully, even after a person has developed a prescription drug addiction, there is a well understood path to help people achieve recovery. At TN Detox Center’s rehab for prescription drug addiction, you can find evidence-based treatments and resources that have been proven to help people overcome withdrawals, resist future cravings, and live a stronger, healthier life in sobriety.

Prescription drug treatment typically begins at our medical detox center, where our team of medical professionals can treat the symptoms of drug withdrawal and help you to achieve sobriety safely. But detox must be followed by treatment at our prescription drug rehab centers – where you can begin targeted therapies, find extensive professional support, and build a recovery network to sustain your sobriety for years to come.

Some of the treatments you can expect to receive at prescription drug rehab include:

Individual Therapy

Working with an individual therapist can help you identify the root cause of your addiction and learn targeted strategies to help you resist relapse moving forward. Individual therapy has decades of evidence showing its effectiveness at helping people achieve recovery across multiple therapeutic modalities, including:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Dialectical behavior therapy
• Acceptance and commitment therapy
• Motivational enhancement therapy

The therapists at our prescription drug rehab in Nashville, TN can offer several different styles of therapy to help you on your path and will be there to support you every step of the way.

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)

MAT is the practice of using targeted medicines designed specifically to help people overcome substance use disorders. MAT can remove many of the lingering withdrawal symptoms that so many people experience, reduce the frequency and intensity of drug cravings, and help you to focus on the treatments and therapies offered during prescription drug rehab.

Addiction Support Groups

Addiction support groups come in two main varieties at TN Detox Center: therapist-led group therapy sessions, which teach specific skills to help resist relapse and flourish in sobriety, and self-help support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, SMART Recovery, or Narcotics Anonymous. Both support group formats can help you to build sober connections and find support and accountability on your journey towards recovery.

Personalized Treatment Plans

No two people have the same story of addiction – and no two people have the same path to recovery. By personalizing treatment options to the individual, we can cater our treatment protocols to suit your exact needs, whether that be more time treating mental health symptoms, helping you to find job opportunities, building social support networks, or repairing the connections you already have.

Start Treatment at TN Detox Center Today

If you need help breaking free from a prescription drug addiction, reach out to the team at TN Detox Center today by calling 615-488-5311 or filling out our confidential online contact form for more information. We know how challenging living with a prescription drug addiction can be, but we also know that you can achieve recovery. All you need to do is make the call – we’ll help you take the next steps towards sobriety.