Created on: Wednesday, 25 November 2009 Modified on: Monday, 01 July 2019

Prescription Drugs Detox Clinics In the United States

There is a wide range of prescribed drugs being used and abused such as benzodiazepines, antidepressants, sleeping pills, and others, and have been in some cases negligent in over prescribing these to patients without first offering alternative methods of handling stress, anxiety, depression, or insomnia. Patients who came in with a complaint of sleeping badly have ended up in a short time inadvertently addicted to a heavy medication and their sleep difficulties still unhandled.

The market value of prescription drugs now ranges in trillions of dollars yearly. There is not one single prescription drug which can be easily stopped once the person is dependant upon it and this is why detox with medical monitoring is necessary.

A doctor can sometimes help a patient with a tapering procedure, as in an outpatient style program, but even this is a difficult situation to have success with. Use of a detox staffed with adequate care persons, good diet, other holistic means of pain management, and other symptom management and care, ensures the most successful outcome.

Can I become addicted to my prescription medications?

Not everyone became addicted to prescription drugs, as not all prescription drugs are narcotics. When taking your prescribed medications as directed by your doctor, there is not much to worry about. When people start abusing prescription medications, especially narcotics, this is when a person becomes addicted to these dangerous drugs.

The safest way to detox off any prescription medication is to enlist a medically monitored facility to avoid seizures, hallucinations, insomnia that lasts for months, brain zaps and countless other withdrawal symptoms.

Speak to one of our counsellors who can help you find a suitable detox facility to safely put an end to prescription medication addiction.

Are opioids addictive?

Opioids are generally safe to use, but excess quantities of this drug can lead to addiction. First-time withdrawal symptoms include:

• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Hypertension
• Seizures
• Diarrhea

Other physical symptoms include easy craving, which can lead to a relapse episode.

How long do prescription drugs stay in your system?

Depending upon the amount consumed, prescription drugs have the tendency to stay in your system for an average of 3-4 days. However, there are different classes that have different detection rates.

• Opioids: 3 days in urine; 12 hours in blood; 90 days in hair.
• Benzodiazepines: 3-6 weeks in urine; 2-3 days in blood; 90 days in hair.

PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Prescription drugs that are ill-used or used for non-medical reasons can make an alteration to brain activity and lead to dependence. Commonly abused classes of prescription drugs include opioids (frequently prescribed to treat pain), central nervous system central nervous system depressants (frequently prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep disorders), and stimulants (prescribed to treat narcolepsy, ADHD, and obesity). Abuse of prescription drugs to get high has become progressively widespread among teens and young adults. As the Nation’s most prevalent illegal drug problem, the abuse of prescription painkillers now ranks second behind marijuana.

There are three classes of prescription drugs that are most commonly abused:

* Commonly used opioids include oxycodone (OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvon), hydrocodone (Vicodin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), and diphenoxylate (Lomotil).

* Common central nervous system depressants include barbiturates such as pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal), and benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax).

* Common stimulants include dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine) and methylphenidate (Ritalin).

ARE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ADDICTIVE?

An increasing form of drug abuse nowadays is prescription drug's abuse, which leads to addiction to these drugs. However, they are only prescribed for pain, surgery, or depression purposes. People tend to abuse them, which leads to high levels of addiction.

HOW TO DETOX FROM PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Many different types of prescription drugs are narcotics while many others are not. Narcotic prescription drugs will normally require a detox of some kind or a period of tapering off the drug. Prior to any detox off prescription drugs, it is recommended the user speaks with his or her prescribing doctor.

HOW LONG DO OPIOIDS STAY IN YOUR SYSTEM?

Having the ability to stay in your hair for up to 90 days, opioids saliva tests are more effective. You can detect traces of opioids in the system for as long as 4 days. Codeine is the fastest leaving opioid that enters your system, it can be detected through blood tests in 24 hours and in urine tests for 24-48 hours.

EFFECTS

Long-term use of central nervous system depressants may lead to addiction and physical dependence. When consumed in high doses, stimulants can lead to compulsive use, irregular heartbeat, paranoia, and dangerously high body temperatures.

STATISTICS AND TRENDS

A number of national studies show that the willful abuse of prescription drugs, such as pain relievers, tranquillizers, stimulants and sedatives, to get high is a growing concern, specifically among teens. Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2006, 16.2 million Americans age 12 and older took a prescription pain reliever, tranquillizer, stimulant, or sedative for non-medical purposes at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Source: Monitoring the Future found 2.7% of 8th graders, 7.2% of 10th graders, and 9.6% of 12th graders had abused Vicodin and 1.8% of 8th graders, 3.9% of 10th graders, and 5.2% of 12th graders had abused OxyContin for non-medical purposes at least once in the year prior to being surveyed.

Teen's misuse of prescription drugs

Prescription-drug abuse by young adults and teens is a major problem in the U.S. This is an extract of the report by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America's annual tracking study:

• 1 in five teens has abused a prescription (Rx) pain medication.
• 1 in five reports abusing prescription stimulants and tranquilizers.
• 1 in ten has abused cough medication.

Many teenagers think these medications are safe because they have monitored and tested but taking them without a doctor's prescription to get high or “self-medicate” and then they addicted to prescription drugs. These medications can be as dangerous if not more and addictive as using street narcotics and other illegal drugs.

Source: http://www.drugfree.org