There are several significant dangers concerning highly addictive prescription drugs. One issue is the ease of access. Too often, illicit substances are left unattended in a household medicine cabinet, and no one keeps track of their use or abuse. Prescription drugs are considered gateway drugs, in part because they may appear less dangerous to experiment with. They are not smoked or injected, and it’s usually not until a person has developed a dependence that they take an interest in snorting pills. Adolescents and young adults are at increased risk for developing problems early in life with prescription drug addiction.
To learn more about the dangers of prescription drugs or prescription drug addiction treatment in California, reach out to the experts at Solution Based Treatment & Detox at 833.999.1941 to speak with a trained representative.
The Dangers of Prescription Drugs
Prescription drug addiction can be insidious. This is because a person does not notice they have developed tolerance or a mild addiction before being wrapped up in the cycle of abuse. The cycle of abuse is created when a person forms a dependence on a substance and needs to take more of a substance in order to prevent withdrawal symptoms and simply feel a sense of normalcy.
Over time, as dependence increases, a person ends up taking more and more of a substance just to feel normal and without any of the euphoric feelings that may have led them to increase their dosage in the first place.
Before a person’s life spins out of control, it’s important to find a way to intervene and stop the cycle of abuse. A person can more easily get their life back on track if they only have a short-term mild to moderate addiction compared to a prolonged or severe addiction. Keeping that in mind, it’s important to remember that recovery is always possible.
Factors that Increase the Risk of Prescription Drug Abuse
Many known factors contribute to drug abuse and addiction. When it comes to prescription drug abuse, common factors include:
- Recent surgery that exposed a person to opioids for the first time, like wisdom tooth extraction
- Access to prescription drugs in the household
- A family member with substance abuse disorder (SUD) leaves their items around or easily accessible
- Living in a low-income household
- Living in a low-income neighborhood
- Family history of mental health issues
- Personal history with mental health issues or diagnosed disorders
Knowing the factors that can increase a person’s likelihood of becoming involved with drug abuse can help know when to intervene before experimentation leads to dependence or full-blown addiction.
Common Signs of Prescription Drug Addiction
Many red flags should make you concerned that a person you know and care about may be experimenting with prescription drugs or other illicit substances. Signs and symptoms of drug abuse can be difficult to spot in the early days of dependence. However, early intervention is always the best-case scenario. Early intervention can prevent a person’s life from being derailed by drug abuse and addiction, health issues and mental health issues that result from drug abuse, and trauma that results from life in the drug culture.
Common signs that a person may be abusing prescription drugs include:
- Increased isolation
- Increased insistence on privacy
- Lack of interest in social activities and hobbies once found enjoyable
- Sleep issues
- Awake at unusual hours
- Weight loss or other changes in appearance
- Change in friends or acquaintances
- Asking to borrow money or other financial issues
- Problems at work or trouble maintaining employment
- Legal issues
If you or someone you care about is struggling with prescription drug abuse, we encourage you to reach out for professional assistance today. Contact the experts at Solution Based Treatment & Detox to learn more about our programs and services to detox and treat those with prescription drug addictions. We are ready to help you begin your path to recovery.
Reach out to SBT about Prescription Drug Rehab Today
The professionals at Solution Based Treatment & Detox know that recovery is a big step. We are not here to judge and treat each of our clients with the respect and dignity they deserve. Our medical doctors and mental health practitioners work with clients to create personalized treatment plans based on individual life circumstances. No one person is the same, and no one’s experience with addiction is the same. Contact us today at 833.999.1941 to learn more about how we can help you on your recovery journey.