Prescription Drug Rehab and Treatment in Atlanta

Prescription drug abuse is one of the fastest growing addictions today. So what are the causes of prescription drug abuse and how does it start? In many cases, prescription drug abuse begins with a valid prescription issued by a medical professional to relieve pain, sleep disorders, depression, or anxiety. However, when the individual begins to take the medication more frequently than prescribed, or in higher doses, for the sake of the intense pleasure or sensation they receive from the drug, it is considered abuse.
Prescription medications that are most commonly abused include:

Opioids. Often prescribed for pain, this type of drug can be highly addictive and may require safe withdrawal under professional guidance to avoid health complications.

• Codeine
• Morphine
• Percocet
• Oxycontin
• Demerol
• Methadone
• Vicodin
• Dilaudid
• Buprenorphine
• Suboxone
• Oxycodone
• Hydrocodone

Stimulants. Prescribed for conditions such as ADHD, these medications increase alertness, energy and attention. Stimulants produce an overabundance of dopamine, the pleasure-inducing chemical in the brain, which is why many people abuse it.

• Adderall
• Ritalin
• Concerta

Barbiturates/Benzodiazepines/Sedatives. These medications are usually prescribed for anxiety, depression, insomnia, or seizures. They work by depressing the central nervous system.

• Xanax
• Valium
• Klonopin
• Ativan

Sleep medications. These medications are prescribed to individuals who have been diagnosed with insomnia.

• Ambien
• Lunesta
• Sonata

Signs of Opioid Addition

If you suspect that your loved one may be abusing opioids, here are some common warning signs to look for:

Physical signs:

• Constricted, or small pupils
• Dry mouth
• Confusion or lack of coordination
• Increased sleepiness or “nodding off” at unusual or inappropriate times
• Slow, slurred speech
• Bruises, or track marks
• Constant flu-like symptoms – body aches, watery eyes, runny nose, muscle aches, and sleeping difficulties

Behavioral signs:

• Increased irritability, agitation, impatience, and temper
• Paying less attention to personal hygiene, such as not showering or wearing dirty clothing
• Showing up late to work, class, home, and special events
• Being untruthful about their whereabouts
• Possessing prescription medications that do not belong to them
• Change in appetite
• Problems with friends and family

Signs of Stimulant Addition

If you suspect that your loved one may be abusing stimulants, here are some common warning signs and prescription drug abuse symptoms to look forto look for:

Physical signs:

• Weight loss
• Increased alertness
• Restlessness
• Dilated pupils
• Sweating

Behavioral signs:

• Erratic behavior
• Increased bouts of euphoria
• Seeking prescriptions for stimulants from multiple sources
• Exhibiting excessive energy or motivation
• Problems with friends and family

Signs of Barbiturates/Benzodiazepines/Sedatives and Sleep Medications

If you suspect that your loved one may be abusing sedatives or sleep medications, here are some common warning signs to look for:

Physical signs:

• Excessive drowsiness
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Slurred speech
• Slowed reaction time
• Poor coordination
• Poor concentration and memory

Behavioral signs:

• Excessive work or school absences
• Poor occupational or academic performance
• Neglect of hobbies and activities that were once enjoyable
• Clumsiness/Increased risk of injury
• Problems with friends and family

A prescription drug addiction is a disease of the brain that can adversely affect all aspects of life – close relationships, school, careers, finances, and self-esteem. Prescription drug addiction is a very isolating mental illness that negatively affects self-worth, happiness, and quality of life. Although pervasive, prescription drug addiction is highly treatable through time, dedication, and professional prescription drug rehab that focuses on highly customized therapy. Considering treatment is tough; but, it will be the best and most rewarding decision of your life.

It’s important to seek professional treatment for prescription drug abuse, because they involve a strong physical dependence that can cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Depending on the drug, professional detox may be required to safely wean an individual off the drug.

Opioids require tapering dosage to safely cease use and avoid health complications.

Sedatives should be tapered off for a few weeks to avoid withdrawal symptoms and to stabilize moods. If sedatives are prescribed to alleviate anxiety disorder, it’s important to speak with a doctor to understand alternatives to manage anxiety without sedatives.

Stimulant withdrawal can cause disturbances in mood stability, sleep patterns, and other functions.

Prescription drug abuse is a highly multifaceted disease and treatment options widely vary depending on the type of drug consumed, length of abuse, medical history, and other important factors. Due to the highly complex nature of the addiction, our prescription drug abuse treatment programs provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment for those who have developed a dependency or an addiction to prescription pain medication. We offer the tools needed to free yourself of addiction and find healthy, alternative methods to manage your pain, so you can get back to leading a productive, happy, and fulfilled life, free of addiction.

The experienced multidisciplinary team at RiverMend Health Centers guides all patients through treatment, offering support and compassionate care as they successfully heal from addiction, while addressing underlying issues such as chronic pain, family history and mental health. RiverMend Health Centers of Georgia implements a unique treatment methodology combining a holistic, scientific and clinical approach to care.

Depending upon the nature of the addiction, RiverMend Health Center’s prescription drug treatment center offer several prescription drug abuse solutions and program options including inpatient programs, intensive outpatient programs, residential programs and partial hospitalization treatment programs. We provide these life-changing solutions for men, women, and adolescents in a warm, compassionate setting. Our treatment approaches to treat prescription drug abuse include:

Comprehensive Evaluation
The initial comprehensive assessment at RiverMend Health Centers is a critical component in our customized treatment program for prescription drug abuse recovery. This evaluation is designed to help us create a recovery plan tailored to meet your unique challenges and needs. The initial evaluation includes stabilization, medical history review, physical exam, and a comprehensive interview with an addiction specialist to understand any dual disorders that may be present alongside prescription drug abuse such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, BDP, PTSD, eating disorders or other behavioral health conditions. Dual diagnosis is critical to understand when creating an individual’s recovery plan, because it will dramatically affect how treatment will be administered to the patient.

Therapy & Counseling
Prescription drug abuse is highly treatable through several therapy modules such as dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), individual therapy, group therapy, and gender group therapy.

Experiential Therapies
Due to the complexity of prescription drug abuse, it’s important to tackle the addiction from all angles. In addition to traditional addiction therapy and counseling, RiverMend Health Centers also offers experiential techniques to treat addiction including art therapy, expressive group, meditation and mindfulness, yoga, and other holistic techniques.

Family Group
Family members of loved ones using prescription drugs are profoundly affected by the addiction on a deeper level. At RiverMend Health Centers, we strongly encourage family member and friends to actively participate in our family program which allows loved ones to learn about prescription drug abuse, enabling triggers, as well as gain deeper insight into the disease. We also offer multi-family group sessions to foster connectedness with other families that have endured similar experiences. Through time, dedication, and understanding, trust and healing can be restored.

Relapse Prevention
Like other chronic illnesses such as asthma, heart disease, and diabetes, pain pill addictions should be managed daily after completing treatment to sustain lifelong sobriety. At RiverMend Health Centers, we believe relapse prevention techniques are critical to long-term recovery success, which is why our expert team constructs relapse prevention programs, highly tailored to meet the individual lifestyle needs of every patient after their time with us.

At RiverMend Health Centers, we understand that all patients have different life responsibilities and obligations to uphold, making rehab difficult to consider. For this reason, we provide flexible options that allow patients to receive effective recovery through highly structured programs. Please view these resources for further information on our program options:

• Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
• Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

Call 833-507-6442 to speak to a RiverMend Health Centers of Georgia pain medication abuse and addiction expert. Our compassionate, friendly staff will guide you through a free phone consultation, discuss your treatment options, and schedule an in-person evaluation from a physician. We look forward to speaking with you.