The abuse of prescription drugs in Pennsylvania is a growing problem. Most people take prescription drugs safely, although approximately 48 million people ages 12 and above (20% of the United States population) have used prescription drugs for non medical reasons.
There are three common categories of prescription drugs.
1. Opioids-often used to treat pain
2. Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants-used to treat sleep disorders & anxiety.
3. Stimulants-used to treat narcolepsy and ADHD
These drugs are easily accessible considering people with legitimate needs are using them. There is a trend with adolescents appropriating the prescription drugs from their parents, other family members and friends. You can find them in almost any medicine cabinet. In addition to the increasing number of medicines being prescribed for health issues, some medications can be easily obtained from the Internet. Online pharmacies make it possible for abusers without the proper documentation to get a prescription (which is illegal).
It is also not uncommon for over-the-counter drugs to be absued. Cough suppressants, antihistamines and sleep aids are just an example of drugs easily accessible and easily abused.
The result of abusing prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs are: confusion, sedation, coma, seizures, decreased respiration, respiratory depression, withdrawal and death.
If you or someone you know is using prescription drugs, please seek help. Clearbrook Treatment Centers is the leading drug rehab in Pennsylvania. We have been helping adults, adolescents and families reach sobriety/recovery. For more information on Clearbrook and the signs and symptoms of drug abuse, go to www.clearbrookinc.com
Source-nida.nih.org2001
Showing posts with label pain killer addicition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pain killer addicition. Show all posts
Monday, January 24, 2011
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Presciption Drug Treatment in Pennsylvania
The majority of people addicted to prescription drugs started to abuse these medications after a legitimate prescription was written for them by their doctor. The prescription may have been written due to chronic pain, auto or sports injury, surgery or to relax strained muscles.
Most individuals don't begin taking prescription drugs with the idea in mind of becoming an addict. Instead what begins for one reason continues for another. Many individuals take the medication to "feel better" physically, hoping to gain some relief from their pain. Another effect of the medication is that it provides a pleasurable feeling. In an attempt to reduce the pain even further and enhance the feeling of pleasure, individuals begin to take more medication. A tolerance to the drug is gradually developed, so now more and more medication is required to produce the initial effect. Soon, the pleasurable feeling cannot be achieved; some of the physical pain is still present; and an addiction to the prescription drug now also exists.
Prescription drugs commonly abused include, but are not limited to:
•Vicodin
•Codeine
•Demerol
•Dilaudid
•Morphine
•Oxycontin
•Percocet
•Xanax
All of these prescription drugs are both physically and emotionally addictive.
Effects of Prescription Drug Abuse and Addiction
As stated above, prescription drug use may start out as taking appropriate medication for a legitimate medical problem. Another group of individuals may also begin to take prescription medication to deal with emotional problems. The main thing these medications do for emotional problems are to "mask" or "numb" the upset feelings. Although a person may not experience the depression or they may be temporarily able to stop obsessing about a certain problem, in most cases, the problem is just exasperated by not learning how to effectively cope with the particular feelings and issues. There are also addicts who are seeking a "high" who may be also addicted to other drugs and/or alcohol, who then begin abusing prescription medication along with their drug of choice due to its availability at pain clinics on the internet. Many people have been found to mix alcohol with prescription medications to accentuate the feeling of euphoria. This mixture is often referred to as a "cocktail." The potential to overdose in this situation is quite high.
Consequences of Prescription Drug Abuse
Most prescription drugs are physically addictive. To abruptly discontinue prescription medications could create a situation where an individual could immediately experience seizures or convulsions. It is for this reason that detox and withdrawal from prescription medications should be attempted gradually and under medical supervision. This is best accomplished in a residential treatment program where an addict can be titrated down slowly and safely off of prescription drugs and medically monitored along the way. The discomfort associated with withdrawal from these medications is contingent upon the dose that an individual was taking and the length of time they had been taking it.
In addition to the Percocet addiction created by abusing prescription drugs, addicts commonly experience negative effects on their personal relationships, employment difficulties and job loss, financial difficulties, legal problems, or psychological difficulties.
Treatment of Prescription Drug Abuse
Due to the physical dependence created by prescription drug abuse and the physical danger in detoxing without medical assistance, addiction treatment should begin in a residential treatment facility or inpatient hospital. The initial phase of treatment is a Pennsylvania detox center. Under medical supervision, the withdrawal symptoms associated can be managed, reduced and sometimes eliminated.
By the time most people enter a Pennsylvania treatment center for prescription drug addiction, they have created quite a bit of emotional damage to themselves and loved ones. It takes time to recover from shame, grief, guilt, and rebuild a level of trust. Residential treatment in a supportive therapeutic environment eliminates many of the outside distractions and allows a person to focus on issues relating to their recovery. The length of stay is usually 30 days and may be followed by outpatient therapy.
Most individuals don't begin taking prescription drugs with the idea in mind of becoming an addict. Instead what begins for one reason continues for another. Many individuals take the medication to "feel better" physically, hoping to gain some relief from their pain. Another effect of the medication is that it provides a pleasurable feeling. In an attempt to reduce the pain even further and enhance the feeling of pleasure, individuals begin to take more medication. A tolerance to the drug is gradually developed, so now more and more medication is required to produce the initial effect. Soon, the pleasurable feeling cannot be achieved; some of the physical pain is still present; and an addiction to the prescription drug now also exists.
Prescription drugs commonly abused include, but are not limited to:
•Vicodin
•Codeine
•Demerol
•Dilaudid
•Morphine
•Oxycontin
•Percocet
•Xanax
All of these prescription drugs are both physically and emotionally addictive.
Effects of Prescription Drug Abuse and Addiction
As stated above, prescription drug use may start out as taking appropriate medication for a legitimate medical problem. Another group of individuals may also begin to take prescription medication to deal with emotional problems. The main thing these medications do for emotional problems are to "mask" or "numb" the upset feelings. Although a person may not experience the depression or they may be temporarily able to stop obsessing about a certain problem, in most cases, the problem is just exasperated by not learning how to effectively cope with the particular feelings and issues. There are also addicts who are seeking a "high" who may be also addicted to other drugs and/or alcohol, who then begin abusing prescription medication along with their drug of choice due to its availability at pain clinics on the internet. Many people have been found to mix alcohol with prescription medications to accentuate the feeling of euphoria. This mixture is often referred to as a "cocktail." The potential to overdose in this situation is quite high.
Consequences of Prescription Drug Abuse
Most prescription drugs are physically addictive. To abruptly discontinue prescription medications could create a situation where an individual could immediately experience seizures or convulsions. It is for this reason that detox and withdrawal from prescription medications should be attempted gradually and under medical supervision. This is best accomplished in a residential treatment program where an addict can be titrated down slowly and safely off of prescription drugs and medically monitored along the way. The discomfort associated with withdrawal from these medications is contingent upon the dose that an individual was taking and the length of time they had been taking it.
In addition to the Percocet addiction created by abusing prescription drugs, addicts commonly experience negative effects on their personal relationships, employment difficulties and job loss, financial difficulties, legal problems, or psychological difficulties.
Treatment of Prescription Drug Abuse
Due to the physical dependence created by prescription drug abuse and the physical danger in detoxing without medical assistance, addiction treatment should begin in a residential treatment facility or inpatient hospital. The initial phase of treatment is a Pennsylvania detox center. Under medical supervision, the withdrawal symptoms associated can be managed, reduced and sometimes eliminated.
By the time most people enter a Pennsylvania treatment center for prescription drug addiction, they have created quite a bit of emotional damage to themselves and loved ones. It takes time to recover from shame, grief, guilt, and rebuild a level of trust. Residential treatment in a supportive therapeutic environment eliminates many of the outside distractions and allows a person to focus on issues relating to their recovery. The length of stay is usually 30 days and may be followed by outpatient therapy.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Prescription Drug Abuse Up 400% in Pennsylvania
While it’s not shocking news considering we have been tracking this for years, but a recent survey confirmed that the number of people in America abusing prescription drugs increased by more than 400% between 1998 and 2008. Although data isn’t available yet for last year, I am sure it will show yet another increase.
The report from the Treatment Episode Data Set also revealed that the number of opiate users admitted for addiction treatment centers who were on prescription painkillers had increased from 6.8% to 26.5% during that time. Many long-term drug treatment programs we work with echo these results.
There is no question that prescription drug addiction and abuse is a national epidemic – way more than any type of flu has been, yet swine and bird strands caused millions of people to get shots unnecessarily and drug companies raked hundreds of millions of dollars in sales from those “outbreaks”. Maybe that is the real connection – it’s not the number of lives lost that counts to them, but how much money winds up in their bank accounts each year. Both situations are directly related to drug companies and their bottom lines – though each has very different story lines.
The report from the Treatment Episode Data Set also revealed that the number of opiate users admitted for addiction treatment centers who were on prescription painkillers had increased from 6.8% to 26.5% during that time. Many long-term drug treatment programs we work with echo these results.
There is no question that prescription drug addiction and abuse is a national epidemic – way more than any type of flu has been, yet swine and bird strands caused millions of people to get shots unnecessarily and drug companies raked hundreds of millions of dollars in sales from those “outbreaks”. Maybe that is the real connection – it’s not the number of lives lost that counts to them, but how much money winds up in their bank accounts each year. Both situations are directly related to drug companies and their bottom lines – though each has very different story lines.
Oxycontin Addiction and Heroin Addiction
Oxycontin VS Heroin? They are so nearly the same drug, most users would take either one. Why is Oxycontin legal and Heroin illegal? Oxycontin and Heroin are both opioids, which are synthetic or real derivatives of opium.
Everybody has heard of Heroin addiction, and in more recent years, Oxycontin addiction. But, just what exactly are these two drugs? Oxycontin is a synthetic opioid prescribed by doctors in the treatment of severe pain. When properly prescribed and properly taken, Oxycontin has a timed-release action to produce approximately 12 hours of steady pain relief. The drug companies began an advertising campaign that left the impression that Oxycontin could be safely given to anyone in pain, even if that pain was not at all severe. It was a miracle pain reliever! The drug companies did such a good job in promoting the drug as almost a miracle drug in easing pain and the safety of it, that Oxycontin is covered by Medicaid when prescribed to a Medicaid recipient.
The doctors began to greatly over prescribe it; it began to be sold on the street; and it began to be abused.
People addicted to Oxycontin destroy the timed release action of the pills or capsules in order to partake of the entire amount of the drug at once instead of spread over 12 hours. Abusers of Oxycontin, become addicted to both, the intense orgasmic mind rush, and the state of complete blissful euphoria which follows the rush. The results of Heroin abuse is almost like the highs of Oxycontin.
The following facts were given as testimony before Massachusetts State Senator Steven Tolman and his Oxycontin and Heroin Commission in May 2009.
•Prior to 1914, Heroin was used to relieve pain and respiratory illnesses in the United States and was given credit for not being as addictive as morphine.
•Heroin became illegal in 1914 because of its addictive qualities.
•Oxycontin, or synthetic Heroin as it is often called, has almost the exact same molecular makeup as Heroin.
•Heroin and Oxycontin both give the user an intense head rush, and then euphoria.
•The drug addict will use whichever drug is the easiest for him to obtain, as Heroin and Oxycontin are interchangeable.
•Oxycontin is vastly over prescribed.
•Both Oxycontin and Heroin are extremely addictive.
Everybody has heard of Heroin addiction, and in more recent years, Oxycontin addiction. But, just what exactly are these two drugs? Oxycontin is a synthetic opioid prescribed by doctors in the treatment of severe pain. When properly prescribed and properly taken, Oxycontin has a timed-release action to produce approximately 12 hours of steady pain relief. The drug companies began an advertising campaign that left the impression that Oxycontin could be safely given to anyone in pain, even if that pain was not at all severe. It was a miracle pain reliever! The drug companies did such a good job in promoting the drug as almost a miracle drug in easing pain and the safety of it, that Oxycontin is covered by Medicaid when prescribed to a Medicaid recipient.
The doctors began to greatly over prescribe it; it began to be sold on the street; and it began to be abused.
People addicted to Oxycontin destroy the timed release action of the pills or capsules in order to partake of the entire amount of the drug at once instead of spread over 12 hours. Abusers of Oxycontin, become addicted to both, the intense orgasmic mind rush, and the state of complete blissful euphoria which follows the rush. The results of Heroin abuse is almost like the highs of Oxycontin.
The following facts were given as testimony before Massachusetts State Senator Steven Tolman and his Oxycontin and Heroin Commission in May 2009.
•Prior to 1914, Heroin was used to relieve pain and respiratory illnesses in the United States and was given credit for not being as addictive as morphine.
•Heroin became illegal in 1914 because of its addictive qualities.
•Oxycontin, or synthetic Heroin as it is often called, has almost the exact same molecular makeup as Heroin.
•Heroin and Oxycontin both give the user an intense head rush, and then euphoria.
•The drug addict will use whichever drug is the easiest for him to obtain, as Heroin and Oxycontin are interchangeable.
•Oxycontin is vastly over prescribed.
•Both Oxycontin and Heroin are extremely addictive.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Addiction to Pain Medications
In a society in which unregulated Internet pharmacies have made acquiring prescription drugs as easy as ordering from an online catalog, it may come as little surprise that thousands of suffering Americans are attempting to self-medicate their pain away. However, as many have discovered, taking highly addictive medications without the advice or supervision of a health care provider can cause many more problems than it solves.
Though not all of these off-label or recreational uses of prescription painkillers can be attributed to struggles with chronic pain, evidence indicates that many individuals develop dependency after using the drugs for legitimate purposes.
In her article on the website of the National Pain Foundation, Dr. Jennifer P. Schneider writes that chronic pain is "notoriously under-treated," and that the most common reasons patients gave for changing doctors included "too much pain," and "the belief that the doctor didn't take their pain seriously enough."
Some people who abuse prescription painkillers are able to overcome their addictions through counseling, participation in 12-step support groups, or outpatient therapy - but more severe cases may merit hospitalization or a stay in a residential treatment facility.
In addition to traditional rehabilitation efforts, which address a wide range of substance abuse disorders, some programs are designed specifically for individuals who are suffering from chronic pain and related dependencies.
One such chronic pain treatment program can be found at the Cleabrook Treatment Centers located in Pennsylvania. With extensive facilities and treatment programs you are sure to overcome your drug addiction.
Though not all of these off-label or recreational uses of prescription painkillers can be attributed to struggles with chronic pain, evidence indicates that many individuals develop dependency after using the drugs for legitimate purposes.
In her article on the website of the National Pain Foundation, Dr. Jennifer P. Schneider writes that chronic pain is "notoriously under-treated," and that the most common reasons patients gave for changing doctors included "too much pain," and "the belief that the doctor didn't take their pain seriously enough."
Some people who abuse prescription painkillers are able to overcome their addictions through counseling, participation in 12-step support groups, or outpatient therapy - but more severe cases may merit hospitalization or a stay in a residential treatment facility.
In addition to traditional rehabilitation efforts, which address a wide range of substance abuse disorders, some programs are designed specifically for individuals who are suffering from chronic pain and related dependencies.
One such chronic pain treatment program can be found at the Cleabrook Treatment Centers located in Pennsylvania. With extensive facilities and treatment programs you are sure to overcome your drug addiction.
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