Treatment Options for Prescription Drug Addiction
There is help available for people addicted to prescription
drugs. There are countless inpatient and outpatient programs
around the world that are specifically created to help people
kick their drug addictions. These programs usually include detox
centers, psychologists, and often include safe alternative
substances to help curb withdrawal symptoms. The level of
treatment needed depends on the length and severity of the
addiction. It is important that people realize that some type of
treatment or rehabilitation is always a good idea. It can be
dangerous for an addict to try to quit taking drugs without any
medical advice or intervention.
Inpatient treatment centers are the best option for people with
severe addiction problems. These centers require that the
patient live in the facility for a specified length of time
while receiving treatment. Inpatient treatment centers can be
extremely expensive, but they are sometimes covered by health
insurance policies. The prescription drug addiction treatment
provided by these facilities has several phases.
Outpatient prescription drug addiction centers are a great
option for other people. If someone cannot afford to live in an
inpatient facility, or if the problem is not so severe,
outpatient treatment is a great alternative.
There are several components to a prescription drug addiction
treatment. First is a period of detoxification, which is when
the drug is slowly cleared out of the addict's body. This can be
the most difficult part of the treatment. Withdrawal symptoms
can be so severe that medical intervention is needed. At the
very least, detox is time consuming and uncomfortable.
Another aspect of prescription drug addiction treatment is
psychological counseling. This helps the recovering addict cope
with a drug free lifestyle, and deal with any symptoms of
withdrawal. Availability of emergency counseling is vital for
keeping addicts from relapsing. Counseling helps the patient see
how much better life is without the complications of a drug
addiction. Counselors also help the patient figure out how to
avoid situations that could lead to a relapse.
Many prescription drug addiction treatment programs give
replacement drugs to patients who need them. Some of the most
common drugs of this type are methadone, buprenorphine, and
naloxone. These are safe alternatives to opioids; they can help
curb withdrawal symptoms while helping the addict detoxify. Drug
alternatives are usually only available for opioids and not for
CNS depressants or stimulants.
It is vital that anyone who is addicted to prescription drugs
gets treatment. Prescription drug addiction treatment helps the
addicts to safely deal with their drug problems in a supervised
and secure environment.