Most of us know that there are many illicit drugs out there that are easy to become addicted to. However, what often gets overlooked is the number of prescription pills that are abused that people ultimately become addicted to. Because they are prescriptions, it can be difficult to tell if someone is actively abusing them or taking them as directed. Because a doctor prescribes them, we often don’t think about the potential for addiction. In particular, prescription pain pills are a significant problem for many people. Prescription pill abuse has become so bad in the United States that many places have begun to regulate and monitor the rate at which certain drugs are prescribed.
At Principles Recovery Center, we believe that everyone deserves the help they need to get free of pain pill addiction. Getting free of pain pill addiction starts with education. That’s why in this post, we’re going to look at the abuse of pain pills, what prescription pain pills are, why prescription pain pills are dangerous, the signs of prescription pain pill abuse, and how to find prescription pain pill treatment centers in South Florida.
What Are Prescription Pain Pills?
Because many drugs are widely prescribed, it can be difficult to know which ones are prescription pain pills and which ones aren’t. In general, most prescription pain pills are in the category of drugs known as opioids. In fact, opioids are the most commonly prescribed pain medication available due to the way that it interacts with the body and the variety of ways they can be used to treat and manage pain. In addition to this, opioids are potent, so they are often used to manage chronic pain conditions and even term terminal conditions like cancer.
Opioids are highly addictive, and overt continued use can lead to abuse and eventual dependence. Because many people with pain issues need painkillers, it can often be difficult to tell whether or not a person is abusing them or simply using them to treat the pain that they have. That is why it is important to know what to look for when it comes to signs of abuse and potential addiction.
Why Are Prescription Pain Pills Dangerous?
The main reason prescription pain pills are dangerous is that they are highly addictive, and using too many can lead to them no longer working properly. Over time, prescription pain pills actually alter the chemistry of the body to the point where the body becomes chemically dependent on the pain pills in order to function normally. This is ultimately the root cause of what leads to addiction for most people.
This is particularly dangerous because a person could go from taking the drugs according to the prescription to taking more than is necessary and changing how they use the drug to achieve the same effects. They may even move to stronger and more potent drugs to get the same feeling they got from their original prescription. Once the body becomes dependent and a person is fully addicted to painkillers, it can be very difficult to break the cycle without help.
What Are the Signs of Prescription Pain Pill Abuse?
There are a number of signs to look for when it comes to prescription pain pill abuse. The first sign is that someone is taking more of their pain pills than they should be. This can be because the pills no longer have the desired effect or a person needs a higher dosage to achieve that effect. You may also see a change in which a person takes the pills, such as going from swallowing pills to crushing them up and snorting them or even injecting the pills to achieve the effects immediately.
Additionally, you may see things like more drastic drug-seeking behavior, such as reaching out to other sources to find pain pills or going to different doctors to get prescriptions for more potent medication. People who become addicted to pain pills may also become withdrawn from family and friends and stop taking care of daily life necessities. The key signs that someone is addicted to pain pills is when they continue to use them despite negative consequences on their life.
How to Find Prescription Pain Pill Treatment Centers?
If you realize that someone you know has a prescription pain pill addiction, it is important to get them treatment as soon as possible. You can spend a lot of time looking for a treatment center online, or you could come to us here at Principles Recovery Center. At our South Florida treatment center, we offer a broad range of options from Teen and Adolescent care to outpatient care to dual diagnosis.
Each program starts with an individualized plan that works to target your specific addiction and not just the drug itself. clients then move on to detox before working on their customized treatment plan. We even offer aftercare services to continue the process once treatment has officially ended. If you or someone you know is suffering from a prescription pain pill addiction, don’t hesitate to contact Principles Recovery Center today.
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