Prescription Medications and Their Effects – Narconon Vista Bay
Narconon Vista Bay realizes that there is a huge epidemic in our country and in our world. This epidemic is prescription drug addiction. Addiction to prescription medication crosses all nationalities and all socio-economic backgrounds and is every bit as dangerous as an addiction to illicit drugs. Some of the most addictive prescription drugs being abused today are as follows:
OxyContin Won't Get You Off Meth:
In 2002, OxyContin was the most frequently prescribed narcotic in the country and, according to the DEA, one of the most abused. This drug is an opiate just like heroin and it is prescribed by doctors for pain but it has become one of the most abused drugs in our nation.
OxyContin is a pain killer and an Opioid Analgesic Medication. It is derived from the well-known 'opium'. It was invented with an intention to replace the highly addictive 'morphine' and 'heroin' but turned out to be a worse addiction. Initially tests proved that OxyContin was successful in curing the pain of the patients as it was not having immediate response and took 12 hours to release the pill in the body. The manufacturer had to go through severe legal allegations and face law suits when the patients slowly started getting addicted to the potent OxyContin dose .The patients eventually started taking the pills as an addiction rather than medication.
When the drug was used for medical reasons, it showed fairly good results and started replacing the highly addictive morphine and heroin. Later, the addictiveness of OxyContin became a serious issue for the patients that had recovered from pain. Addicted people have tried various legal and illegal methods to obtain the drug. The key ill effects of OxyContin are depression, discomfort and physical withdrawal, which a patient feels after coming off of the drug.
Adderall Won't Get You Off Meth:
Adderall is a drug that is commonly prescribed for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and is classified as an amphetamine or “upper.” This medication is taken by people who have one of these conditions, yet has the opposite effect on hyperactive individuals by slowing brain function. This allows the patient to concentrate easier on daily tasks and activities.
Over time, the Adderall user develops a tolerance for the drug and must take higher doses to get the effect he or she is looking for. The addict usually continues using Adderall in order to avoid going into withdrawal.
Symptoms of Adderall withdrawal include mood swings and depression. In some cases, the depression is limited to feeling down or a lack of energy, but some people feel suicidal during this time. Quitting Adderall “cold turkey” is not recommended. Instead, weaning the individual off the drug slowly is considered a much safer option.
Adderall addiction is a complicated issue. To help a person who has become dependent on this drug, they must go through withdrawal first. Then the addict must adopt a drug-free lifestyle. Part of this work involves delving into the reasons through counseling why they started using Adderall and the perceived benefit they got out of the experience. Only then can they deal with the feelings or events that may trigger the urge to use the drug again.
The first stage of getting Adderall addiction treatment is going through detox to rid the body of the drug. Next, the work of dealing with the addiction itself must start, which means entering a rehab or a center specializing in treating addiction. This is an important step in getting help for the addiction and moving toward recovery.
Xanax Won't Get You Off Meth:
Xanax is one of the most abused prescribed medications. Xanax is the most often prescribed medication for short-term use to treat anxiety disorders, panic attacks and moderate to severe stress. From the benzodiazepine drug class, Xanax is effective in lowering the excitement levels in the brain and giving a person a feeling of calm. While Xanax has been prescribed since the early 1960s, the increase of Xanax abuse and need for Xanax addiction help is reflected in statistics that show that Xanax has had a steady increase in the number of emergency room drug-related visits.
Typically, a person drifts toward Xanax abuse because they have developed a tolerance to the drug’s effects. Therefore, they start taking larger doses. While the increased dosage may not have been recommended by the physician, a person who has received benefit from Xanax will ignore the warning signs in an attempt to achieve the effects that they initially experienced.
Other behavioral indicators of potential abuse and addiction are that a person may become compulsive about using Xanax and feel that they are completely unable to stop.
As their compulsion increases, a person becomes increasingly concerned about getting more Xanax, and may try to obtain prescriptions from various doctors or even by buying it illegally. Because their focus becomes so centered on acquiring Xanax, a person may exhibit changes in habit or lifestyle, which may impact their ability to take on responsibilities associated with work, school, and home.
How to Recover from Meth is the Same as Prescription Drug Abuse:
Vista Bay Santa Cruz can help with addictions to these prescription medications and other drugs. With Narconon Drug Rehabilitation, a person will detox from drugs in a serene setting with 24-hour supervision from our qualified staff. Then the person will rid his or her body of all the harmful toxins that have been stored in their system by using a combination of sweating in our Sauna, exercise, and nutrition. After all the toxins have been eliminated from the body, the person will learn how to confront, control, and communicate at level that will help them get what they want out of life.
The individual will also learn how to remain in the present, which is the only place one can effectively control and change his or her life. The person will also repair damaged relationships with his or her loved ones so he or she can graduate our Program with a clean slate as a drug-free, law-abiding, productive member of society.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with prescription drug abuse and addiction, contact a counselor at Narconon Drug Rehab immediately. You'll be saving a life. For information on how to help an adolescent with a drug problem, see Teen Prescription Drug Use.