Prescription Drug Addiction

How Prescription Drug Addiction Develops

Addiction to prescription drugs is not usually something people choose. Often it’s a result of your body and brain adapting to the medication over a long period, all too often alongside some underlying issues such as:

• Chronic pain: when the pain relief wears off before the next dose is due, it can start to tempt you to take more medication, or to take it a bit earlier, gradually leading to a build up of tolerance and dependence.
• Anxiety or mental health problems: the meds can make things easier in the short term, but they can also become an unhelpful coping mechanism that’s hard to shake
• Sleep difficulties: relying on meds to get to sleep can eventually mean you are no longer able to sleep without them
• Past traumas or stress: some people use medication as a way to numb or get through difficult times or emotions

The more you use these medications, the more your body adapts to them, and so more of the drug is needed to get the same effect. Stopping suddenly can then trigger withdrawal symptoms, which just goes to show that you’re trapped in a cycle.

Common Prescription Drugs that can lead to Addiction

• Opioids for pain relief (oxycodone, hydrocodone and morphine). They’re meant to help with pain, but the risk of becoming dependent is extremely high.
• Benzodiazepines for anxiety or sleep issues.
• Stimulants for focus or energy (ADHD medications).
• Sleep medications. These are a short-term solution for insomnia, but sometimes people use them way beyond the time frame they were meant for.

Warning Signs of Prescription Drug Addiction

Prescription drug addiction can affect you in loads of different ways physically, mentally and through your behaviour.

Some signs of prescription drug addiction include:

• Taking more of the medication, or using it more often, than you were told to
• Going to multiple doctors to try and obtain extra prescriptions
• Withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, nausea, the shakes, or sweating, when you forget a dose
• Pulling away from friends and family, or just dropping activities you used to love
• Using the medication even though it’s causing problems at work, with your relationships or your health
• Mood swings, irritability, or just feeling like a different person

If any of these apply to you or someone you care about, it may be worth speaking to a professional about support options and prescription drug rehab programmes.

Our Approach to Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment

Accepting that you are addicted to prescription drugs is a difficult step. Our medical and therapeutic teams are highly trained in dealing with prescription drug addiction and will make the entire process as comfortable as possible for you. We will:

• Provide medical care and support during your withdrawal.
• Supply the most appropriate treatment for you to make the most effective recovery.
• Give you healthy coping mechanisms to replace the medications.

Our luxurious private Mediterranean estate, as well as our other UK-based clinics, may be the perfect place for you to take your first step towards prescription drug addiction treatment and recovery.

Contact us today on +44 (0) 800 012 6006.