This word regularly creates the same response in recovery settings: “Ugh! I hate change!” This is an interesting comment, since all around us, the universe spins faster than we can perceive, with change being the only thing going on at all times, without end.

It sounds like work to recovering addicts. After all, isn’t their life now upside down, in seeming chaos, because of a change they made, from active addiction to recovery? And that does not look so great in the beginning. There is a lot of wreckage to clean up and a lot of work that they see necessary to maintain their abstinence. And now, talk of change as well?

Visions of many things may come to mind when this word is introduced: That they must somehow become “good” instead of such bad, bad people. This is a change they do not begin to know how to make. Thankfully, it is not a necessary change. Mostly, they want to change the way they are seen by those who have despaired most during their addiction. This is the family and friends who watched them go from beloved son, daughter, wife, husband, mother, father, sister, brother, cousin, employee, friend and become an untrustworthy, manipulative, dishonest, selfish and inconsiderate addict. This change resonates with them. But how does one do this? What must change first?

Old ideas are one thing to start with. It will take many years to rebuild broken relationships. The idea that it will happen quickly just because the substance abuse has stopped is not going to work. First of all, there may be a relapse in substance abuse. This will destroy the work if those in relationships believe it was only the substance that created the problem. Smash that idea immediately!

Practicing becoming honest, trustworthy, respectful and emotionally available to these relationships takes a long time to learn, even longer to practice, and longer than that to trust for those who have been involved with anyone’s substance abuse. Learning to let go of doubt and anger and to believe in their loved one again takes as long as it takes. Dispel the notion that it will happen NOW or even Soon. It will happen slowly, over time, as they begin to see and believe that the changes you are making are real and viable. That you are becoming the person they could always see inside you that was being destroyed by the addiction.

Other changes that will be necessary, over time are those more subtle that are part and parcel of the addict’s arsenal of survival skills such as blaming others, being the victim, being emotionally unavailable and taking without giving back. These are frequently behaviors that addicts adopt to keep others at arm’s length, especially if it threatens their addiction. Now that the addiction is gone, they need to uncover behaviors that supported their addiction and distanced others in relationships and change them. This is different with each person, and sponsors, mentors and therapists can help with these behavior modifications.

Recovery is all about change. From beginning recovery to the many years that may be in store for an addict, it is the adventure of becoming the person they only dreamed of being. One change at a time, they blossom and thrive. It is, as is said in 12-step meetings “an inside job.” While not as difficult as feared, it is the reason for the second part of the Serenity Prayer, which asks for “the courage to change the things I can.”

Kelly McClanahan has an MSW in clinical social work, with a specialization in substance abuse treatment. Having worked in this field for over 20 years, she is currently working on her certification as an addictions’ counselor.

Prescription drug abuse is at an all-time high which means that treating prescription drug addiction is more imperative than ever before. Teens are overdosing at shocking rates, more people are becoming involved in the legal system, and people are even dying from prescription drug abuse. The numbers are literally in the millions. The highest numbers represent opiate-related pain medications. In fact, according to a study from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) over the decade from 1998-2008 the number of those who sought out help from prescription drug treatment rose nearly 350%.

These numbers signify that there is even a greater need for prescription drug treatment than ever before. While some drugs warrant more of a psychological treatment from the drugs this is not the case with prescription drug treatment. People that are coming off of prescription drugs need a more stringent line of treatment that includes medical supervision during detox, a formal inpatient treatment, counseling regimens, and a complete after care program.

People that abuse prescription drugs usually develop a severe addiction problem and withdrawal from the drugs is, in fact, life threatening. No one that is abusing prescription drugs should ever consider anything other than professional prescription drug treatment. This is because there is a medical staff constantly monitoring patients in detox and they can make the often difficult process of treating prescription drug addiction much easier to get through.

The detox process is followed by residential prescription drug treatment. This program will last a minimum of 30 days. The program is supervised and quite structured offering complete concentration on treating prescription drug addiction. The prescription drug treatment includes individual counseling, group counseling, family counseling, drug education, and how to make healthy lifestyle choices. These are all of the tools necessary for long-term abstinence.

The exact type of prescription drug treatment that each patient requires can vary based on various factors. The first factor is if the patient is addicted to opiate pain pills, stimulants, tranquilizers, or a combination. Each drug type requires a different form of prescription drug treatment so that it is successful. This is why it is so important that every individual gets a thorough evaluation before entering prescription drug treatment.

The basis of prescription drug treatment is basically the same as it is for other types of addictions however it is more likely that a combination of efforts will be used for treating prescription drug addiction. These may include cognitive behavioral therapy to target the way that patients think about and make decisions about drugs. It is also important for the patient to understand the root causes of their addiction and that a better life is waiting for them once they are clean and sober.

The reason that treating prescription drug addiction is different than treating other addictions has a lot to do with the way that the brain is affected by prescription drugs, especially opiate pain pills. Opiates stimulate opiate receptors that are all over the brain, stimulating the brain’s reward system. Opiates affect pleasure and pain relief in the brain. The brain produces endorphins that trigger opiate receptors. This must all be thoroughly understood when effectively treating prescription drug addiction.

Treating prescription drug abuse is much more difficult than treating other drug addictions. While all recovering drug addicts do experience powerful cravings that often lead to relapse, treating prescription drug addiction is more complicated. This is because of what the prescriptions often do to the brain. More simply put, to treat cocaine addiction and prescription opiate addiction the same would be a great wrongness to the patient.

Because of new developments in technology there is much more success in treating prescription drug abuse than ever before but there is always room for improvement. Pairing behavioral and pharmacological efforts together is working the best right now. Treating prescription drug abuse must encompass education that specializes in living without drugs, how to handle drug cravings, how to avoid situations that glorify substance abuse, and what to do in the event of a relapse.

Cheryl Hinneburg writes web content for KLEAN Treatment Center in Los Angeles CA . KLEAN specializes in offering dual diagnosis drug and alcohol treatment. Cheryl is currently pursuing her MS in Substance Abuse Counseling.

Drug addiction is a growing threat and an individual does not realize when they turn from a medication consumer to a medication addict. But there are explicit prescription drug addiction signs that will help realize the need for recovery from the addiction. Read on to understand the ‘what’, ‘why’ and ‘how’ of prescription drug addiction.

What is prescription drug addiction?

When an individual takes medication for a longer duration than advised or for purpose other than the intended one, it becomes an addiction. The individual becomes dependent on the medication for performing his day-to-day activities and can possess extreme craving for the medication. There are few basic prescription drug addiction signs that will help understand the scenario so as to take necessary action.

Why is the dependency caused?

Prescribed medications are drugs which can affect the brain’s chemical activity on prolonged or improper usage. This causes a dependency or craving exhibited by the body on the drug resulting in prescription drug addiction signs.

Prescription Drug Addiction Signs

The most basic prescription drug addiction signs are that an addict individual will tend to be affected by anxiety and depression. Sometimes the addict will also suffer from sleeplessness and can be viewed as a person who is always complaining or creating vague symptoms on health so as to gain access to more medication. They might also be at times show lack of interest in treatment or other options other than medications and will be more interested in consuming medications. Prescription drug addiction signs may also include at times loss of interest in social circles and relationships.
Prescription drug addiction signs also include mood swings and anxiety levels on constant changing levels. Some addicts can also be linked with a past history of drug addiction which can be linked to prescription drug addiction also. People who show prescription drug addiction signs can be seen using pills for a longer period than mentioned or for purposes other than the indicated ones. They also at times see multiple doctors so as to obtain the same medication in huge amounts.

Noticing the increasing trend of addiction and its associated problems, the number of prescription drug addiction programs forming around the country is not surprising. The importance of prescription drug addiction programs is gaining wide acceptance due to massive increase in drug dependencies and fatalities.

What are Prescription Drug Addiction Programs?

Prescription drug addiction programs are oriented towards providing quality treatment to combat addiction and related problems of prescribed drugs. These programs target making life and the future worth living for addicted individuals.

Why a Prescription Drug Addiction Program?

Drug Addiction can shatter your life. A prescription drug addiction program can help you cut the cravings and regain your life. These programs treat addiction using many different methods tailored to the type of drug abused, an individuals health and other factors.

What does a Prescription Drug Addiction Programs do?

Prescription drug addiction programs can utilize many different methods and modalities. Some individuals might require pharmacological treatment involving medications while other might require the use of personal counseling or therapy methods. Most programs also include continuing education and aftercare, 12-Step meetings and other types of support.

How to choose a quality prescription drug addiction program:

Depending on the need and specific case of the addiction, there are many different options of prescription drug addiction programs available. You can narrow the programs based on their credentials, experience, and a specialized focus towards treating difficult addictions to prescription medication.

When you find drug addiction is a problem for you or your loved ones, many prescription drug rehab centers are available to help. Freedom from prescription drug addiction requires specialized care to be effective and this is where prescription drug rehab centers come into play.

Why should you choose a prescription drug rehab?

A prescription drug rehab aims at providing the best treatment for prescription drug addiction and can provide the individual with long lasting relief from the effects of prescription drugs. A rehab that provides therapy, medication management and group counseling is one of the most effective treatment options when it comes to such kind of drug addictions. Many holistic therapies also relieve the effects of opiate, xanax and valium withdrawal symptoms. These centers provide guidance and medical advice to manage the cravings and addiction.

When and how to seek prescription drug rehab guidance?

When an individual starts showing signs of medication addiction, getting help quickly is important. Quality prescription drug rehab centers need to be selected carefully. Many addicts consider seeking help in prescription drug rehab centers a sign of weakness and vulnerability. It is worth the effort. Getting help and guidance to combat addiction problems is easy at a prescription drug rehab center.

How does a prescription drug rehab center work?

Once in a prescription drug rehab, the centers goal is to provide therapy, group counseling, detoxification, pain management without prescription medication or holistic therapies designed to let the body heal naturally with addiction to prescription drug. The ultimate goal is return to a normal state of life. Treatment centers provide hope and the confidence to lead a normal life. Most of the prescription drug rehab centers provide luxurious surroundings with private rooms and all the amenities of a resort. Some are basic and provide only activities designed to learn a healthy lifestyle. Individualized care and support at a prescription drug rehab center can help you be free from addiction. Some rehabs also concentrate on nutrition and fitness methods into their treatment schedule.

There are many choices to help recover from addiction to prescription medications. Here are some facilities that offer specialized detox, treatment and recovery from addiction. SoberRecovery.com