Prescription Drug Addictions

Prescription drug addictions are on the rise, not only as primary substances of abuse but also as secondary substances of abuse. At Narconon Arrowhead statistics show significant numbers of program participants involved in multiple prescription drug abuse along with any other reported drug addiction or alcoholism. This is no small problem when one takes into account the severe debilitating effects occurring on both the mental and physical levels from the abuse of these ‘medications’. Couple this with severe and often deadly side effects from mixing these substances and the clear rise in violence and suicide that can accompany withdrawal and ones sees a whole new level of treatment needed in handling today’s addictions.

An inpatient rehabilitation treatment center is generally the way to go for effective treatment of severe drug abuse or any form of addiction. This is not to say the outpatient does not have a use, as it does in cases of light abuse where the individual still maintains control of life and situations to an extent. In the main however, addiction by its very nature implies an inability to control use and by extension inability to handle life situations that led up to and are contributing factors in continuing addiction. With its use of close supervision and removal from dangerous environments the inpatient rehabilitation treatment center provides superior chances of achieving a drug free lifestyle.

Alcohol rehabilitation of course involves the cessation of all alcohol use. Alcoholic generally have all sorts of reasons and rationale for drinking. Many, many try to control their drinking and only end up putting off the inevitable. Alcoholism can only end in one of three ways – death, jail, or sobriety. There really are no other options. Many times alcoholics will be involved in other substance abuse, often unknown or unsuspected by family or loved ones. Whether it is alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both, the three factors needing fully and competently addressed are the cravings, guilt, and depression that are hand and hand with any addiction.

Alcohol addiction goes by the more commonly used term of alcoholism. Make no mistake about it; this is an addiction pure and simple. Addiction is a condition characterized by repeated and compulsive seeking and use of drugs, alcohol, or other substances despite adverse social, mental, and physical consequences. Alcohol is a very common substance of abuse, accompanying the main drug of addiction, in the case of multiple substance abuse. Conversely, other drugs are commonly involved with alcohol addiction as well. The common denominators to all these addictions are cravings, guilt, and depression and are the three factors needing addressed in order to obtain a drug free and productive life.

How does one go about determining when drug use crosses the line into drug abuse and addiction? Drugs are used as a solution to pain, be it mental, emotional, or physical. Fore instance one takes a painkiller and physical pain subsides or one take a street drug and the emotional pain of feeling like an outsider goes away. There are many motivations but they all come under the heading of handling pain in one way or another. Drug abuse sets in when the drug is being used more and more to mask and cover up the pain rather than addressing the actual causes of the pain itself. From abuse one quickly moves on to addiction where tolerance to the drugs builds up to the point where the individual can’t conceive of life without them for fear of unbearable pain of one type or another. Ones life then becomes centered on acquiring and using more and more drugs at any cost or sacrifice. Along with this comes all the cravings, guilt and depression that results from harm done to self, family, loved ones, careers, etc.