If someone you know is addicted to one or more types of prescription drugs, they should attend formal drug rehab. You may not be sure whether or not your friend or family member is truly addicted, but by making some careful observations, you can usually see if they have a severe problem. If they do, you may need to seek out prescription drug rehab on their behalf.
Behavioral Signs of Prescription Drug Addiction
Prescription drugs can be deadly. Get the help you need today.
Someone who is addicted to prescription drugs will exhibit many types of strange behaviors. They will often not act like themselves and, according to the NLM, they will have “a strong urge to use the substance and [will not be able to] stop, even if they want to.” This lack of control is a definite sign of addiction, and noticing it in your loved one will mean that they need prescription drug rehab. Other signs that they will exhibit if they need this type of treatment are:
Neglecting their responsibilities, “missing work or school, or a decrease in performance”
Becoming violent or hostile (especially if the individual is abusing prescription stimulants as this kind of behavior can cause “intense anger and paranoia” to the point of full-blown psychosis) (NIDA Teen)
Abusing prescription drugs every day and while alone
Making excuses in order to abuse drugs
Building of a high tolerance for the drug and the continued abuse of it, especially when the dosage abused becomes higher and higher
“Hostility when confronted about drug dependence”
Activities that they once cared about no longer mattering
Spending time only with others who abuse drugs and neglecting old friends
“Continuing the use of drugs even when health, work, or family are being harmed”
Those who are severely abusing prescription drugs also have a tendency to do illegal things in order to get more. Prescription drug addicts might steal prescriptions or fake them, buy drugs that are only available by prescription, or do dangerous things in order to get more of the drug. If they crave one or more prescription drugs to this point, rehab is necessary.
Physical Signs of Prescription Drug Addiction
Someone who abuses prescription drugs will likely encounter many physical problems as a result of their abuse. If your loved one has overdosed on depressants, stimulants, or opioids (or another type of prescription drug), they may be addicted and could benefit from rehab, especially if they were in extreme danger. The NIDA states that prescription opioid and depressant overdoses can cause death, especially when combined with alcohol, and prescription stimulants in high doses can cause cardiovascular failure.
Other physical signs of prescription drug addiction are:
Withdrawal symptoms
Not necessarily a sign of addiction, but if the individual is already abusing prescription drugs and experiences withdrawal, it means that they are dependent which occurs along with addiction in drug abusers over time
Chronic physical issues
Like all other drugs, prescription medications can cause severe physical problems in those who do not use them properly. Each type of drug causes its own physical issues.
If you see these behavioral or physical symptoms in your loved one, they may need prescription drug rehab in order to stop, especially if they are unable or unwilling to stop on their own.
Are you trying to figure out if you should seek treatment that’s close to home or far away? If you’ve wondered for some time now if there are benefits to seeking help that’s local or if you should choose a rehab center that offers treatment a distance away from your community and home—consider these benefits to….
Most everyone has his or her own quirks and idiosyncrasies. Throughout the course of the day, these “unique qualities” may have little to no effect on a person’s ability to function effectively. In cases where these qualities start to affect one’s quality of life, the seeds of mental illness may be at work. Mental health….
Heroin rehab treatment provides addicts with the tools and guidance needed to take back their lives from addiction. During rehab, recovering addicts go through an intensive process that’s designed to lay the foundation for living a drug-free life. Once a person completes rehab treatment, he or she enters a new stage of the recovery process…..
Methamphetamine, more popularly known as meth or crystal meth, is a dangerous and all-encompassing drug. Smoked, snorted or injected, meth provides users with a long-lasting euphoric high. It does come with a cost, however. Meth is highly addictive, and is harmful to the physical and mental health of users. According to the National Institute on….
Over the course of decades, the addictions field has amassed a wealth of information and expertise on how to best help addicts overcome the effects of substance abuse. While certain standard treatment protocols remain the same across the board, rehab programs have branched off into a number of different approaches for treating addiction. According to….
Yes, you can force someone to go to rehab. Although this is not the preferable way to do it, it is possible to make someone check into a rehab center. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, rehab does not have to be a voluntary choice to work. It is however, considerably more difficult….
The National Survey on Drug Use & Health estimated that more than 1.2 million Americans who were over the age of 12 had used methamphetamine at least once in their lifetime. This habit forming drug can result in a lifetime of consequences and for some will lead to addictive behaviors that require treatment and rehabilitation….
So. Here you are- You with the addiction to cocaine; You with the addiction to meth; You with the addiction to opiates. You have found yourself right smack in the middle of a raging addiction that you have no control over. You feel helpless and scared. You want to get help for your addiction but….
Although it is possible to get sober in 28 days, you cannot completely cure addiction in 28 days. This is why long term rehab centers offer extended addiction programs. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, time for treatment differs depending on several factors. It is important that the length of treatment match the….
Are you or your loved one considering entering treatment in a rehab center? There are so many questions you must have and so many things to be considered when thinking about your options and what type of treatment facility would be best for you or your loved one. Rest assured there are many options for….
Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser: Recovery Helpline or Alli Addiction Services.
By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.
