Prescription Drug Treatment
Prescription drug abuse affects thousands of people in Iowa, but help is available at Ivory Plains.
Prescription drug abuse is taking a medication without a prescription in a way other than as prescribed. It also means taking a prescription medication for the feelings the medication produces.
Prescription drugs used to treat pain, anxiety, and attention deficit disorders (ADD) are the types of medications most likely to be abused.
Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs
Opioids
Opioids are derived from the seed pods of the opium poppy. They include codeine, morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl.
These medications are usually prescribed to treat moderate-to-severe pain. Opioids are also used to relieve pain immediately following surgery.
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Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants
CNS depressants are a class of medications used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. They are commonly known as sedatives and tranquilizers, and these drugs can slow brain activity. The ability to slow things down makes CNS depressants a good tool for treating anxiety and sleep disorders.
Some medications in this category include benzodiazepines like Valium and Xanax, which are used to treat anxiety and panic attacks. Non-benzodiazepine sleep medications include Lunesta and Ambien.
Barbiturates like Mebaral, Luminal Sodium, and Nembutal are not used as frequently to treat anxiety and sleep issues due to their higher risk of overdose. These medications are used to treat seizure disorders and in surgery.
Stimulants
Stimulants, such as Dexedrine, Adderall, and Ritalin, increase alertness and attention and give the user increased energy. Drugs in this class elevate the user’s heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate. Traditionally, stimulants were used to treat asthma and other respiratory issues, neurological disorders, and obesity.
As their potential for abuse became apparent to the medical community, doctors prescribed stimulants more cautiously. Today, stimulants are prescribed to treat a limited number of medical conditions, including ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Occasionally, they may be prescribed for depression for patients who have not responded to other treatments.
Signs and Symptoms of Prescription Drug Addiction
Benzodiazepines commonly affect users in these ways:
- Taking higher doses than prescribed
- Sleeping less or more
- Being unusually energetic, high, or revved up
- Being drowsy
- Making poor decisions
- Being hostile or having mood swings
- Requesting early refills or continually “losing” prescriptions, so more prescriptions must be written
- Forging, stealing, or selling prescriptions
- Trying to get prescriptions from more than one prescriber (“Doctor shopping”)
Find Help for Prescription Drug Addiction in iowa
It’s all too easy for you or a loved one to slide down the slippery slope into a prescription drug addiction. Simply because a doctor prescribes the drugs, it doesn’t mean that a patient can ignore the instructions and take a higher dosage. It also doesn’t mean the medication should be shared with others if left over.
The Ivory Plains residential program is a structured, nonjudgmental approach that focuses on the body, mind, and spirit. Our facility is the perfect place for clients to get away from the distractions of everyday life so they can focus their complete attention on early recovery. The program follows the principles of the 12 Steps, which focus on the spiritual principles of Honesty, Open-Mindedness, Willingness, Courage, and Integrity.
Our co-ed facility typically welcomes clients for a 30-day stay. Clients follow a personalized treatment plan, meaning their stay length may vary based on their history, individual progress, and treatment goals. Residential treatment for prescription drug addiction near Des Moines includes individual and group therapy, attending 12-step meetings, trauma-informed care, and detox when needed.
