Prescription Drug Abuse in Indianapolis, IN – (317) 550-1509

Prescription drug abuse is a serious problem in Indiana and throughout the rest of the United States. In 2012, more than 1,000 Hoosiers died due to prescription drug abuse, marking a 57 percent increase in the rate of overdose death due to prescription medications compared to the previous decade, explains the Indiana Attorney General’s Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force. Read on to learn more about the problem and what you can do if someone you love is abusing prescription medications.

What Are Prescription Drug Abuse, Dependence, and Addiction?

Prescription drug abuse means taking a medication for anything other than its recommended use. People often abuse opiate painkillers to experience a high that is similar to that of heroin. Central nervous system stimulants like Adderall are abused by people who want to increase their energy levels or ability to concentrate, while central nervous system depressants like Xanax are taken for a feeling of calm.

Dependence on prescription drugs happens when a medication causes the brain and body to begin functioning in a different way, resulting in a need to keep taking the drug. If a person who is physically dependent on a prescription drug stops taking it, he or she can experience severe symptoms of withdrawal.

Prescription drug addiction is a disease where a person cannot stop taking a prescription medication despite consequences like side effects, financial hardships, and legal problems. Physical dependence is part of addiction, but there are also emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of the disease.

People who are addicted to prescription drugs will often resort to drastic measures to try and maintain a supply of medications. Things like lying to doctors, forging prescriptions and stealing prescription pads are all examples of things addicts may try to do in order to avoid having to go without medications.

Getting Help for Prescription Drug Addiction in Indianapolis  

People who are addicted to substances usually cannot stop using them with willpower alone, reports the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Recovery from prescription drug addiction is possible, though, with professional drug rehab services.

Drug rehab begins with detox to eliminate prescription drugs from the body. A medical team oversees the process to ensure safety, and treatments are administered to reduce withdrawal symptoms. After that, the individual in recovery has a chance to learn about themselves and determine what made them abuse prescription drugs. They can get help for trauma, stress, depression and other problems that might have led to the addiction.

After looking back at the past and learning from what happened, people in rehab for prescription drug abuse and addiction prepare for a clean and sober life. They learn techniques and skills that can help them avoid using drugs when they encounter triggers.

When rehab ends, recovery continues, as addiction is a lifelong disease. Through support from family and friends and aftercare like therapy, counseling and support groups, people can continue to abstain from prescription drug abuse over the long term.

If you or someone you love needs help for a prescription drug problem in Indianapolis, Indiana, contact Drug Detox Centers Indianapolis today at (317) 550-1509.