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Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs

At Recovery Ranch in Tennessee, we provide drug and alcohol detox and recovery treatment for those who suffer from drug and alcohol substance use disorders. Some clients who come to us have a dependency on commonly abused prescription drugs. Learn more about the dangers of medication prescribed by doctors or available over the counter at the pharmacy to avoid relapse. Additionally, visit a substance abuse treatment center if you are struggling with abusing prescription drugs or other substances. If you would like to live a life without addiction, reach out for help from an addiction treatment center today and get the help you need.

What Are Common Prescription Drugs?

Commonly abused prescription drugs include opioids, stimulants, and depressants. Additionally, some over the counter (OTC) medications cause dependency problems when not taken as instructed. Both prescription and OTC drugs may cause serious health risks when you take them together or with alcohol.

The prescription drug addiction treatment center at Recovery Ranch Tennessee assists those who suffer from a substance use disorder for drugs prescribed by a doctor. There are three main categories of prescription drugs, as follows:

  • Opioids. Physicians prescribe opioids to patients with chronic or acute pain. Examples include morphine, codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, propoxyphene, and fentanyl. Opioids reduce the brain’s perception of pain and may create a euphoric feeling by activating the brain’s pleasure centers. Those with substance abuse orders often modify how they take the drug for greater impact. For example, snorting or injecting OxyContin enhances the euphoric effects — and greatly increases the risk of an overdose.
  • CNS Depressants. Doctors provide CNS depressants to clients with sleep disorders or anxiety. Depressants slow brain function and include barbiturates, such as benzodiazepines (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), and triazolam (Halcion).
  • Stimulants. Stimulants such as dextroamphetamine (Adderall) and methylphenidate (Ritalin) can help individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. These stimulants increase blood pressure, heart rate, and blood glucose.

Our opioid addiction treatment center addresses the challenges of cravings and dependency on opioids, while other programs address alcohol and other substance use disorders. If you suffer from a co-occurring mental health disorder, you can participate in a dual diagnosis treatment program to overcome the underlying causes of their addictions. A dual diagnosis treatment program can help you get treatment for both addiction and mental health treatment at the same time.

Over the Counter (OTC) Medicines

This classification includes sleep aids (Unisom), antihistamines (Benadryl or Dramamine), and cough suppressants (DXM). These medicines have psychoactive effects when taken in great enough quantities.

Prescription Medication Abuse

Elders and adolescents are most susceptible to commonly abused prescription drugs.

  • Adolescents. In 2018, 369,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 had misused prescription stimulants. An alarming trend amid adolescents, call pharming, involved mixing prescription medications and taking without understanding the impact of mixing the drugs.
  • Elderly Adults. Older people tend to have more prescription medication available due to various health concerns. This sometimes leads to accidental misuse. Some older Americans also develop addictions through intentional misuse. Drug metabolism changes with age, leaving the elderly at a greater risk of health issues when they take commonly abused prescription drugs.

Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment

At Recovery Ranch in Tennessee, we tailor the addiction treatment program to each client and offer them an individualized treatment program that fits their needs. From the admissions process to detox to recovery to aftercare, our professional staff is here for you each step of the way. End your reliance on commonly abused prescription drugs. You can look forward to a future of clarity and productivity when you seek help and treatment. Contact The Ranch Tennessee at 1.844.876.7680 to enroll in a treatment program for prescription drug abuse today!

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