Prescription drug addiction is very common in the United States. In most cases, it’ll start innocently. You’re hurt and need pain management, so you’re prescribed a painkiller medication.
If you have mental health issues, genetic risks, or are now dealing with a chronic pain issue, however, you’re at greater risk of that prescription becoming an addiction.
The good news is that having an addiction is not the end of the world. Yes, it can get you into trouble. Chronic prescription abuse can damage your organs and lead to dangerous symptoms like seizures, respiratory failure, or even heart attacks.
That’s why it’s so important to get prescription drug addiction treatment from reputable treatment centers like ours. We can help you overcome your addiction and help you avoid future prescription drug abuse, all in a beautiful ranch facility in Pulaski, Tennessee.
What is Prescription Drug Abuse?
Prescription drug abuse means that you have become addicted to any of the prescription drugs out there on the market today. For most, the prescription drugs in question are opioid-based.
Opioids are synthetic, semi-synthetic, or natural pain relievers. Natural opioids are derived from the poppy plant, but don’t assume that just because they’re natural, they’re safe. Natural opioids are just as addictive, cause severe withdrawal symptoms, and have a high overdose death count in the United States.
Types of Commonly Abused Prescription Medications
Several prescription medications have made the news in recent years. You’ve undoubtedly heard of fentanyl, which is a semi-synthetic opioid. Fentanyl has caused tens of thousands of overdose deaths every year.
Other prescription medications that have high addiction rates include:
Oxycodone: Also known by the brand names OxyContin, Percocet, Roxicodone
Hydrocodone: Known by the brand names Vicodin, Lortab, or Norco
Morphine: Also known as M, Morph, or Roxonal on the street
Fentanyl: Known officially as Actiq, Duragesic, or Sublimaze, and Apache, China White, or Jackpot on the street
These are just a few of the prescription drugs that have caused addictions in Americans in the past few years.
It is important to note that there are different kinds of risks. If you take official prescription drugs only, then you do not need to worry about any dangerous substances being mixed in with your drugs. There is still a risk, yes, but those risks are not nearly as prevalent as those who buy their prescription drug fix from dealers.
Fentanyl purchased from drug dealers, for example, is not stolen from some official factory. It’s made in illegal labs with no oversight. Fentanyl is also often mixed. Fentanyl is mixed with other substances and mixed into other drugs, making the risk of respiratory failure that much higher.
The reason why these are all considered prescription drugs is that people often start to get hooked on them after an official prescription. When that prescription ends, they may then turn to drug-seeking behavior – either by doctor shopping or by buying illegal substances.
Prescription Addiction in Numbers
Prescription drugs are highly addictive, which is why it’s estimated that around 18.4% of Americans over the age of 12 have deliberately abused prescription medications at least once. Those with a full-blown prescription drug addiction make up 5.76% of all Americans.
Opioid-related overdose deaths are also very high and caused 81,083 people to lose their lives to their addiction in 2023.
You aren’t alone in your drug and alcohol addiction. While most people taking prescription drugs won’t end up with an addiction, many psychological, genetic, and physical symptoms can lead to a higher risk.
Those with chronic pain concerns, for example, are more likely to misuse drugs in their lifetime since they have an ongoing, valid reason for prescription painkillers.
Dangers of Chronic Prescription Abuse
Chronic drug use, regardless of whether they’re illicit drugs or by prescription, causes lasting damage to the body. The risk of long-term damage happens the longer you are addicted, as you will naturally start to build up a tolerance and, in turn, need higher doses to get the same effects as previously.
That physical dependence, however, makes it harder to quit and puts you at higher risk of long-term health complications such as:
Organ damage and failure
Respiratory depression and failure
Sleep disorders
Anxiety
Depression
Seizures
Cardiovascular damage and arrest
Overdose
Prescription Drug Abuse Withdrawal Symptoms
Prescription drugs can also be challenging to quit simply because when you’re addicted, you will need to go through a detox process. This can be very uncomfortable and, in some cases, even dangerous, which is why it’s so important to go to a professional prescription drug rehab program in or near Nashville, TN.
For example, general symptoms of prescription drug withdrawal include:
Sweating
Shakes
Vomiting
Nausea
Diarrhea
Sleep disturbances
In extreme instances, however, you may experience seizures. Depending on the extent of your organ damage, you may experience organ failure, heart attack, or stroke.
These are rare, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Going to a top prescription drug rehab program near Nashville, TN, like ours, means total medical supervision, partial hospitalization if necessary, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help you through the withdrawal period.
Signs and Symptoms of a Prescription Drug Addiction
There are several signs and symptoms to watch out for in yourself and a loved one.
Someone with a prescription drug addiction may:
Start taking prescription drugs that don’t belong to you
Lie to doctors to get another prescription
Buy illegal drugs from dealers to continue getting their high
Be using prescription drugs even when they no longer have pain
Start to isolate themselves from their loved ones
Lose interest in their previous interests or even responsibilities
Put themselves in debt to acquire more prescription drugs
Get themselves into legal trouble
You don’t need to be at rock bottom to warrant prescription drug addiction treatment. You could simply be struggling with your use and want professional help to avoid becoming seriously addicted in the future. You may want to quit but have chronic pain and fear quitting will mean nothing but pain.
We can help everyone manage their addiction in our ranch-based prescription drug rehab.
Steps to Overcoming Your Prescription Drug Addiction
There are several steps to overcome your reliance on addictive prescription drugs, including the following:
Start with the best prescription drug detox Tennessee has to offer
Understand the reasons why you became addicted to prescription drugs in the first place
Address those underlying mental health concerns
Connect with others recovering from a prescription drug addiction to learn tips and tricks and be inspired by your peers
Rebuild your relationships with friends and family
Rebuild your confidence, self-worth, and life skills to lead a healthier, more rounded life
Continue to get support with professional support services, support groups, and your network
If you relapse, get up and try again
What Can You Expect from a Magnolia Ranch Recovery Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment Program?
We offer comprehensive treatment programs for those struggling with prescription drug addiction. Our professional treatment covers all aspects of addiction recovery, allowing you to heal physically, understand your mental health, and rebuild your coping and life skills to thrive.
Our treatment methods are all evidence-based and chosen for their effectiveness. We use the same personalized approach for our residential rehabilitation patients as we do during outpatient treatment—just at different treatment frequencies.
In short, you can get high-quality addiction treatment from professionals at all stages of your recovery process.
Get a Safe and Effective Prescription Drug Detox Nashville Treatment at Magnolia Ranch Recovery
The first step for many of our Tennessee patients is to detox. The detox process can take a week or two from start to finish, depending on what type of prescription drugs you are addicted to.
The reason why you should visit a detox center like ours is simple – it’s the safest, most comfortable way to go through the detox process. Our detox services are all medically supervised. We also offer medication-assisted treatment to help you manage any severe or chronic pain you may experience during your detox program.
Medically supervised detox isn’t just helpful for managing withdrawal symptoms, either. There can be complications during your detox depending on the extent of damage caused by chronic prescription medication abuse.
The detoxification process can put extra strain on already damaged organs, for example, or cause a seizure. The good news is that our inpatient detox facility has medical staff on hand 24/7. We also provide partial hospitalization programs if you are at risk, meaning your health and safety are in good hands during this stressful time.
Together, we can help you safely manage the withdrawal symptoms and complete the detoxification process.
Comprehensive Treatment for Your Mental Health
We also offer clinical prescription drug addiction treatment for both our inpatient and outpatient clients. Our goal here is to help you learn more about your mental health and how it has contributed to your prescription drug addiction.
Living with chronic pain is traumatic. Surviving a serious injury or health emergency can cause PTSD. These are two widespread mental health concerns we see here at Magnolia Ranch Recovery, and we know how those traumas can exacerbate an opioid addiction and put you at a higher risk of addiction in the future.
That’s why we have addiction specialists who are trauma-informed. We can help you address your trauma, making overcoming addiction more realistic in the long run.
We also offer therapies designed to help you catch the thought patterns that lead to addiction and change them. We can help you do this through cognitive behavioral therapy. If you struggle with fear, anger, or shame, however, we may suggest dialectical behavior therapy instead to help you learn how to accept your feelings on top of the skills learned in CBT.
Group Therapy Sessions to Connect with Others
Recovery is not an island. For best results, it’s important that you reach out to others, build bonds, and rely on that support network. That’s why we organize group therapy with others in recovery and family therapy with your loved ones.
A Holistic Treatment Program To Help You Regain Confidence and Self-Reliance
We offer several holistic treatments as part of your personalized prescription drug rehab program. You can learn how to express yourself non-verbally with art or music therapy. You can work on regaining your confidence in yourself through our equine-assisted therapy. We even offer life skills-building classes like nutrition to help you lead the best life outside our facility.
Why Choose Magnolia Ranch Recovery for Your Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment
We help those with their addiction and also any co-occurring disorders that are complicating their recovery.
With us, you can get extensive, personalized care through your health insurance. Think of two to three sessions with a therapist daily instead of weekly. This higher frequency means you can often be ready to move on from inpatient to our intensive outpatient program in just 28 days.
You’ll get some of the best care in the country in a beautiful, supportive environment. Our facility is on a 38-acre ranch full of beauty, fresh air, and wildlife. You’ll enjoy long walks outside, horseback riding, yoga and meditation, and more in the beautiful countryside here at Magnolia Ranch Recovery.
Take the First Step Towards Your Recovery with Magnolia Ranch Recovery
All you need to start your prescription addiction treatment is to get in touch with our team today. You can find us just 75 miles out from Nashville, TN, and we can even organize ground transportation up to 4.5 hours away to make it even easier to get to us.
Here, you can recover emotionally, psychologically, and physically from your addiction. Learn more by calling us, and see what your recovery journey could look like at Magnolia Ranch Recovery.
