Identifying prescription drug abuse signs can be tough if you’re coping with a lot in other areas of your life. However, seeking help sooner rather than later may be a game-changer in ensuring you or your loved one has the best chance of lasting recovery. If you’re looking for prescription drug abuse treatment in the Hudson, OH, area, contact Ray Recovery today. Our qualified team members are standing by at 888.598.6299 or by online message to answer your questions and help you with enrollment.
What Are Some Key Symptoms of Prescription Drug Addiction?
Identifying the symptoms of prescription drug addiction can take some understanding of the specific substances at play. The most commonly abused prescription drugs are opioids, used for severe pain management, anti-anxiety medications like benzodiazepines, and stimulants, which are used to manage some sleep issues and ADHD. Here are a few signs to watch for that may indicate a substance use problem is present in relation to one of these classes of drugs:
- Engaging in “doctor shopping,” which means a person attempts to get multiple prescriptions simultaneously to increase the amount of a drug available to them.
- Using someone else’s prescription or buying pills illegally.
- Constipation related to opioid use is occurring frequently.
- Experiencing depressed breathing, drowsiness, or confusion due to opioid or anti-anxiety medication use.
- Difficulty forming short- and long-term memories due to anti-anxiety medication use, a feature especially well-known in Xanax abuse.
- An unnaturally alert state, anxiety, or paranoia due to stimulant misuse.
- An elevated body temperature and blood pressure, irregular heart rate, and reduced appetite because of stimulant abuse.
- The “high” from prescription drug abuse of any kind has become the main focus of a person’s life. When not actively under the influence, they expend much energy seeking their next dose.
- Relationships are suffering due to fixation on drug use.
- Practical matters like work, school, or hobbies are also falling by the wayside as they’re overshadowed by acquiring and using drugs.
What Happens in Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment?
Remember that if you or a loved one is struggling with prescription drug misuse, you’re not alone. This form of substance use disorder is prevalent in the U.S. and elsewhere, and the good news is that quality assistance is also available. The first step in most treatment programs is detox, freeing you from direct chemical impact while benefiting from medical supervision and care.
After this, you or your loved one will enter talk therapy. Here, one-on-one sessions with a registered clinician can help you explore the underlying reasons for your substance abuse. These can include everything from elevated stress at work to unaddressed childhood trauma. Working on self-regulation and coping skills is also crucial in prescription drug treatment. Interventions like cognitive-behavioral therapy are especially helpful in this regard since they focus on teaching clients to identify their own self-defeating thought patterns and reframe them. Mindfulness, whether delivered through breathing techniques, meditation, or another modality, can also help. It develops clients’ capacity to tolerate inner tension and allow challenging thoughts and feelings to pass through without acting on them.
Finally, group interventions are important in prescription drug treatment. Options like 12-step meetings and mediated group therapy sessions provide powerful peer support and engagement. They allow clients to see they are not alone in their journey toward better health and increased agency. They likewise provide clients a basis for personal accountability and greater compassion for both others and themselves.
Get Help Identifying the Signs of Prescription Drug Abuse and Begin Treatment Through Ray Recovery Today
Empower yourself by learning more about prescription drug addiction signs and symptomatology today. Getting informed is a great first step toward taking back the reins of your life as well as helping loved ones who are struggling. Call Ray Recovery at 888.598.6299 or reach us online to learn more about our quality treatments in Hudson, Ohio. Our friendly team members look forward to connecting you with resources.
