Modern medicine has created many astonishing cures, but sometimes the cure is worse than the disease. Never has this been more obvious than with the rise of opiate addiction. Scientists originally developed opioid painkillers to treat chronic pain, but over the years, they've caused a serious health crisis. Through the direct effects of prescription drug abuse and its contribution to heroin addiction, opiates have killed hundreds of thousands in the US alone. In many cases, it's necessary for people to seek the support of our prescription drug addiction treatment program in San Antonio.
At San Antonio Recovery Center, we're committed to providing the best possible treatment for our clients. Whether you're suffering from an addiction to prescription opioids or stimulants, we're here to help. To learn more about our drug and alcohol rehab programs in San Antonio, please contact us today at 866.957.7885.
Though opiates have been around in some form for thousands of years, America's present prescription drug abuse problem began in the 1990s. During this decade, medical and government agencies called for doctors to solve chronic pain. Researchers explored opioids or substances that numb pain by influencing receptors in the brain as a promising solution.
By the 2000s, doctors were prescribing opioid drugs on a massive scale. Oxycodone purchases, for example, increased fourfold from 1997 to 2007. Purchases of hydrocodone increased by a factor of nine, while methadone use increased 13 times within the same period. By 2013, doctors were writing 55 million opioid prescriptions a year just for patients over the age of 65.
With so many patients using opioids, it was only a matter of time before many became dependent on them. Opioids are highly addictive because of their effect on dopamine, a chemical the brain uses to relieve pain. The longer a patient uses an opioid, the harder it is for their brain to produce dopamine without it. Patients, however, were largely unaware of this risk, assuming any drugs their doctors prescribed were safe.
On top of those getting opioids from their doctors, many people started getting them for recreational use. According to DrugWatch, roughly 52 million Americans have used prescription painkillers for non-medical purposes every year. This has further raised the rate of addiction and contributed to the following statistics:
In 2012, 12 million people admitted to having abused prescription drugs in the US. The only drug with a higher abuse rate is marijuana, which is not nearly as dangerous. There are thus few health crises more serious than the opioid epidemic.
A prescription drug addiction may come with many different signs. If you become aware of the following signs, a prescription drug addiction rehab may be necessary:
As a person continues taking a medication, he increases his risk of becoming dependent on the drug. This will mean that his body will adjust to each specific dose. In the future, he will need to take larger doses to experience relief from his physical complaints.
Addiction can wreak havoc on personal and professional relationships. It can also cause some people to experience conflict with local authority figures.
Some people facing an addiction start to engage in dangerous or criminal activities. They may commit theft, burglary, or similar types of crimes in an attempt to gain access to drugs. Driving under the influence of addictive substances is also a common problem.
Many prescription pain medications are controlled substances. Some people struggling with addiction seek care from multiple doctors. This allows them to make sure they don't run out of medication.
Withdrawal symptoms generally affect those facing an addiction. These symptoms are physical or emotional problems that occur when a person tries to cut back on their drug usage.
There are many classic and innovative treatments for a prescription drug addiction. A prescription drug addiction rehab may use the following treatment choices:
Many treatment plans start with intensive forms of talk therapy. Personal, family, and group counseling all have their unique benefits in drug abuse treatment.
Cognitive-behavioral therapies can help people identify self-defeating thoughts. By changing negative thoughts, these individuals can also change the resulting behaviors.
Depression and anxiety often present alongside addiction issues. In these cases, it's important that all conditions receive treatment.
At San Antonio Recovery Center, we're committed to providing the best possible care for all of our clients. We offer a range of holistic and evidence-based treatment programs, all of which we tailor to the needs of the individual. We also provide a variety of treatment options at our prescription drug addiction treatment program. For instance, our treatment options include:
As a leading drug and alcohol rehab facility, San Antonio Recovery Center is committed to fighting the opioid crisis. For more information on prescription drug abuse and addiction treatment, call us today at 866.957.7885.
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