Prescription Abuse
Overcoming Addictions LLC
Addiction Treatment Center located in
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis, MN
Though prescription abuse involves many different medications, opioids are by far the most common — and the deadliest. More than 70% of all drug-related deaths
involve opioids. Board-certified specialists and professionals at Overcoming
Addictions LLC treat prescription abuse through their outpatient recovery program.
No matter what type of medication you use, help is available 24/7 by calling the
office in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Even if you’re not in Minnesota, you can get exceptional
help overcoming a dependency or addiction through telehealth
appointments.
Prescription Abuse Q & A
What is prescription abuse?
Prescription abuse occurs when you take prescription medications inappropriately. You might:
- Take a medicine without having a prescription
- Take a medicine that was prescribed for someone else
- Take a larger dose than prescribed
- Use a prescription drug to get high
- Take the medication in a different way than prescribed
Taking a medication in a different way refers to crushing tablets and snorting or injecting them instead of swallowing them.
Prescription abuse often begins when you need medications to relieve acute and chronic pain. But as you keep taking the medication,
your brain changes, and you need ever-increasing doses to relieve your symptoms. That’s when prescription abuse turns into
a chemical dependency.
your brain changes, and you need ever-increasing doses to relieve your symptoms. That’s when prescription abuse turns into
a chemical dependency.
What opioids cause prescription abuse?
Opioids top the list of prescription medications being abused. Some of the most common opioids include:
- OxyContin®
- Vicodin®
- Morphine
- Methadone
- Demerol®
- Codeine
- Fentanyl
These narcotics are especially dangerous because a high dose slows your breathing and stops your heart. Since a chemical
dependency drives you to take larger doses, you can cross the line and take a deadly overdose without realizing you reached that
stage.
dependency drives you to take larger doses, you can cross the line and take a deadly overdose without realizing you reached that
stage.
Do other medications lead to prescription abuse?
Opioids aren’t the only medications that can cause a dependency or addiction. A few examples of other medications that people
misuse include:
misuse include:
- Methamphetamines
- Adderall®
- Ritalin®
- Valium®
- Xanax®
- Anabolic steroids
- Lorazepam
- Klonopin®
The drugs on the list aren’t equally addictive, but they all have the potential for dependency.
How is prescription abuse treated?
The treatment for prescription abuse depends on which medication you use, how much you take, and how long you’ve used it. People
who have just started to become dependent need a different level of treatment compared with those who are addicted to potent
medications like opioids.
who have just started to become dependent need a different level of treatment compared with those who are addicted to potent
medications like opioids.
For low to moderately addictive medications, your Overcoming Addictions LLC provider may only need to taper down your medication
while prescribing other medications to treat your symptoms.
while prescribing other medications to treat your symptoms.
On the other hand, powerful narcotics need medically assisted treatment (MAT), which allows you to safely detox using medications
that stop your cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
that stop your cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
No matter what type of medication or treatment you need, Overcoming Addictions LLC provides all of your care, including medications
and therapy, as part of their outpatient recovery program.
and therapy, as part of their outpatient recovery program.
You can get treatment for prescription abuse no matter where you live by scheduling telehealth appointments. Or you also have the
option of going to the office.
option of going to the office.
Hope, Help, Heal.
Our Compassionate Team is Ready to Help.