Prescription Drug Abuse in Killeen, TX

Prescription drug abuse in Killeen remains a significant public health concern. Many people wrongfully believe that taking prescription drugs is somehow safer than using illicit street drugs, so it's common for some people to believe they don't have a drug abuse problem.

In reality, drug rehab for prescription abuse takes exactly the same form as treating someone caught in the grip of heroin or cocaine addiction.

Treating a person caught in a cycle of prescription drug abuse in Killeen begins with the detox process. It's recommended that treatment is conducted in drug rehab centers that can provide monitoring and supervision throughout the recovery process.

Drug rehab for prescription abuse begins with drug detox in Killeen. Depending on the type of medication the person was abusing, treatment may include certain medications to help reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. When the effects of the drug have been removed from the body, behavioral treatments and counseling for prescription drug abuse in Killeen begin to address the underlying psychological aspect of addictive drug use.

What is Prescription Drug Abuse?

Prescription drug abuse is the use of any prescription medication in any way other than a doctor prescribed. Taking higher doses than the doctor recommended or taking medication intended for someone else is considered drug abuse.

Likewise, taking any prescription drug for recreational purposes, or for getting high or stoned, is also considered drug abuse.

Prescription Drug Overdose Statistics

Statistics released by the University of Texas in 2016 show that prescription drug abuse continues to be a serious public health concern.

The report indicates that prescription benzodiazepine abuse remains high in Texas, with alprazolam (Xanax) being the most commonly abused sedative drug, followed by diazepam (Valium). While the rate of use is stable, the number of accidental overdose deaths involving a benzodiazepine drug was higher in 2016 as compared to previous years.

Indicators also highlight a continuing increase in the number of people abusing prescription opiate painkiller medications, including hydrocodone (Vicodin or Percocet) and oxycodone (OxyContin). In 2016, Texans experienced a sharp increase in the number of people abusing synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.

The number of accidental overdose deaths in 2016 as a result of abusing prescription opiate painkillers decreased slightly from the previous year, but still remain higher than those caused by overdosing on heroin.

Further statistics released by the American Society of Addiction Medicine shows there were 52,404 lethal drug overdoses across North America in 2015. Of those deaths, 20,101 were caused by overdosing on prescription opiate painkiller medications. By comparison, only 12,990 were related to heroin overdose.

Why Are Prescription Drugs So Addictive?

Prescription opiate painkiller medications are intended to treat acute or chronic pain on a short-term basis. Opiate drugs act directly on the brain's opioid receptors by interfering with normal pain signals.

However, when they're taken for non-medical purposes, they can cause significant changes within the brain's chemistry. Over time, the brain becomes accustomed to the presence of the drug in the system and can't adapt when the user stops taking it suddenly.

Likewise, tranquilizer or sedative medications like benzodiazepines act directly on the central nervous system as a sedative. The brain released higher-than-normal amounts of hormones and neurotransmitters in an effort to counteract the sedative effects, which produces tolerance in long-term users. The person needs to take higher doses to achieve the same effects, which increases the risk of overdose.

Stopping use of sedative medications suddenly and without medical supervision can cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms that could require emergency medical assistance.

Treatment Options for Prescription Drug Abuse

Treating a person caught in a cycle of prescription drug abuse in Killeen involves a combination of treatments and therapies. Behavioral therapies begin to address the psychological triggers behind drug abuse disorders and work on teaching the recovering person healthy ways to cope with stressful situations without the need for medications.

Drug rehab for prescription abuse is almost identical to treating a person addicted to illicit street drugs. Addiction specialists in drug rehab centers focus on the type of drug being taken before determining the correct therapies and treatment programs in Killeen.

For example, a person entering drug rehab for prescription abuse of opiate painkillers will be treated in a similar way to someone being treated for heroin addiction.

Similarly, a person seeking to recover from a cycle of Xanax or Valium abuse may be treated in a similar way to people recovering from alcohol abuse, as both substances act as sedatives on the central nervous system and can potentially cause similar psychological withdrawal symptoms. Someone abusing Adderall may also be treated in much the same way as someone entering drug rehab for cocaine or methamphetamine addiction.

The first step to recovering from prescription drug abuse is to reach out and seek professional help in a specialist drug rehab facility. Call us now at (877) 804-1531.