Recovering from prescription drug addiction

Addiction is an uncontrollable need for a particular substance, such as alcohol, food or cigarettes. One of the common types of addiction is addiction drug prescription. Prescription drugs are rapidly becoming primary drugs of abuse throughout the world.

There are many drugs which can be misused or abused. Some of the main prescription drugs that are abused include opioids, which are used for the relief of pain, CNS depressants used to deal with anxiety and sleep disorders, tranquilizers, and stimulants which are prescribed in order to treat narcolepsy, ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder), and obesity.

Prescription drug addiction is an extremely dangerous type of addiction as it often goes unnoticed. The addict often believes that he or she is taking the drugs as prescribed. This type of addiction starts slowly, becoming a dependency and then developing into addiction. Recovering from this type of addiction is very difficult and painful as withdrawal symptoms can be quite severe.

Withdrawal symptoms may include physical illness, temporary loss of memory, and wild mood swings. These symptoms are dangerous not only for the addict but also for those around them. For this reason prescription drug addicts need special medical treatment.

The two main categories of drug addiction treatment are behavioral and pharmacological treatment. Behavioral treatments teach the patient how to live sober and resist or eliminate cravings. Relapse prevention is another important part of the treatment. Behavioral treatment includes individual counseling, group or family counseling, contingency management and cognitive behavioral therapies.

Some addictions such as opioid addiction can be effectively treated with medications. This type of pharmacological treatment eliminates the effects of the drug on the brain and behavior. It has been proven that if both behavioral and pharmacological treatments are given simultaneously, they are extremely effective.