Prescription Drug Rehab

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, three common types of prescription medications are subject to abuse, painkillers, central nervous system depressants, and stimulants. Although these three types of prescription medications are vastly different in how they work and what they work on, they are strikingly similar in how people abuse them. Each one has the same potential for addiction. They are the second most abused substances in the United States.

Each class contains several medications that you may have heard of. Opioid painkillers have names such as Vicodin, Hydrocodone, and Methadone. Central nervous system depressants have names such as Xanax, Valium, and Seconal and stimulants have names like Ritalin, Adderall, and Concerta. The abuse of prescription medications usually starts as treatment for a disorder such as chronic pain, anxiety, or ADHD. Unfortunately, many people being treated for these disorders unwittingly become addicted and eventually need treatment. How, where, and what type of treatment is a big decision that can change their life.

Types of Treatment

In holistic prescription medication rehab you will be able to try various treatment types to enhance your recovery.

There are two basic types of treatment for the abuse of prescription medication. Which type to choose depends on both the drug being treated and individual circumstance.

• Inpatient treatment is the type that requires a stay in a hospital or rehab facility for the entirety of the treatment. The reasons to choose inpatient treatment are:
  • You are in acute withdrawal – this is often the first stage of treatment and involves physically coming off the drug.
  • Your living situation – if you live with another drug user or there are multiple triggers in your community, you may need to be isolated from them.
  • You need care for a secondary condition – many people who suffer from addiction have a complex condition that needs treatment along with detoxing from the prescription drug.
• Outpatient treatment is the type that requires daily, weekly, or monthly visits to a clinic, rehab, or other provider. The reasons to choose outpatient treatment are:
  • You are prefer to go through acute withdrawal using nonstandard methods – although this is not advisable due to the risk of seizure that most of these medications carry, it is possible to do it under a doctor’s care outside of an inpatient facility or hospital.
  • You have a job that you cannot take weeks off from – if you are employed and do not have the time off, outpatient allows you to maintain your job while you are in treatment.
  • Your addiction is secret or you are in a position of trust – many people choose to go to outpatient treatment because their families, coworkers, or others cannot know about your addiction. You might work in a field like healthcare or law enforcement, where you are trusted and addiction treatment cannot be public.
  • You and your doctor agree that outpatient treatment is better for your addiction.

Regardless of whether you choose inpatient or outpatient treatment there are many approaches available to you. Some of the most common therapies used in both inpatient and outpatient therapies are:

• Holistic therapy – animal assisted therapy, hypnosis, herbal medications, meditation, and other holistic methods,
• Counseling – behavioral therapy, individual counseling, group therapy, and cognitive therapy,
• Medication replacement – medication management and medication replacement therapy.

Depending on the type and intensity of the prescription medication addiction combining therapies might be an option. It is best for some people to go through acute withdrawal in an inpatient setting and then switch to outpatient when the danger has passed.

Benefits of Holistic Treatment

There are many holistic treatments for prescription medication abuse. Each of these treatments has its own benefits. A few of the holistic treatment methods that practitioners employ to help prescription medication abuse and their benefits are:

• Herbal supplements and medications – herbal healing has been around for decades and is practiced by many ancient cultures. The benefits are:
  • nonaddictive relief for withdrawal symptoms,
  • vitamins for replacing vital nutrients lost through the addiction,
  • teas and other tinctures to reduce anxiety and help insomnia.
• Meditation and relaxation techniques – meditation is used in many forms of therapy and counseling to relax and refresh the mind.
  • techniques like guided meditation help refocus cravings and rehearse situations where relapse might occur.
  • both are known to relieve pain and anxiety.
• Tai Chi and Qigong – both are physical and meditative practices.
  • stretching and exercise alleviate pain and stress,
  • the meditative practices of these exercises serve to calm the mind and strengthen the body,
  • both promote relaxation and give focus and energy.

These are just a few of the benefits of holistic therapy for prescription drug abuse. Many of the underlying conditions that coincide with this type of drug abuse are treated with holistic methods. By combining treatment for the cause of the abuse with the treatment of the abuse, practitioners often solve both problems.

Should I Choose Holistic Treatment

Holistic treatment is treatment of the whole body. Each person is an individual needing help rather than a disease or condition. In many cases, it is not whether to choose holistic treatment but what combination of treatments best benefit your recovery. According to the American Psychological Association, many medical, psychiatric, and rehabilitative facilities already practice holistic techniques or offer holistic therapies along with more traditional treatment practices.

Because holistic treatments contain lifelong strategies to improve all aspects of life, they are valuable in many situations and not just for addiction. Choosing a treatment for prescription medication rehab is an individual decision.

How Long Will Prescription Medication Abuse Treatment Take?

How long prescription medication abuse treatment takes depends on the medication, length of use, and above all you. Some people can switch medications quickly and be done with the addiction, while others might take longer.

Traditional rehab programs start at 28 or 30 days. This is just the beginning of treatment. They give you the tools to continue your treatment either on your own or with outpatient support. Holistic and holistic combination rehabs are a bit different. Holistic practices involve lifelong changes to not only treat the original issue but to treat the person as a whole. They treat the addiction, help prevent relapse, and help to change the practices that led to the addiction.

What to Expect from Prescription Medication Rehab Treatment

You can expect several things from prescription medication rehab treatment. Depending on which treatment type you choose you can expect:

• An acute phase – in this phase the focus is mainly physical withdrawal. It is getting off the prescription medication without either exacerbating the original condition or returning to the drug. This phase is often accompanied by supportive treatment and medications.
• The maintenance phase – in this phase you learn how to avoid or remove your triggers. You also learn how to cope with the addiction and what you did while addicted if necessary. This phase is also a learning phase. You learn the techniques you need to cope without the addictive prescription medication through a variety of practices.
• The aftercare and recovery phase – in this phase you put into practice everything that you learn in rehab. You use it to avoid making the same mistakes that caused you to become addicted.

All rehabs and rehab programs are different. To learn what to expect from a particular treatment plan talk to your providers. There are no guarantees in any program but one rule that is pervasive in all rehab programs is that you get back what you put into it.

What Does Prescription Medication Rehab Treatment Cost? Is Insurance Accepted?

The cost of treatment for prescription medication addiction varies greatly depending on the specific type of treatment involved. There are three types of treatment. These are:

• Inpatient treatment, which is performed in a medical facility or clinic, and requires the patient to be admitted, much like a hospital. The patient then undergoes around the clock care. There are three varieties of inpatient treatment centers, including:
  • High-end addiction treatment centers – this type of treatment takes place in a luxurious facility. These facilities have picturesque settings, spas, swimming pools, and hotel-like accommodations. They are the preferred treatment centers of the rich and famous, and can cost from $5,000 dollars a day to hundreds of thousands of dollars per month.
  • Mid-level inpatient treatment centers –This type of treatment is more clinical and less luxurious than the high-end centers. On average, the cost of these prescription drug rehab treatment centers is between $1,000 and $5,000 per day.
  • Publicly funded inpatient facilities – treatment in these facilities is usually funded by local governments or hospitals. As such they have no real amenities, and the focus is on necessary medical treatment. The cost of these facilities is usually determined by a sliding-scale based on the patient’s income.
• Outpatient treatment facilities, which provide treatment on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis do not accept overnight patients. Much like a doctor’s office, outpatient treatment fees are charged per visit, and costs vary depending on the service. Some types of outpatient treatment receive public funding as well as private funding for their services.
• Alternative addiction treatments, which include things like acupuncture, massage therapy, and holistic or herbal treatments. Practitioners perform holistic treatments on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. The cost of this treatment varies depending on the type and length of treatment.

All licensed inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities accept insurance, but it is important to make sure your particular insurance is accepted. Also, check with local and state departments of health to see if any financial assistance is available.

Where Should I Go for Help?

There are several places you can go for help with prescription medication abuse. The first place is your doctor. The physician who is treating the illness you are taking the prescription medication for, already knows your history and what alternatives are available. You can also go to a hospital, particularly if you’ve stopped the prescription medication and you are in acute withdrawal. Not only can they help with you with the withdrawal, they can recommend recovery programs in your area.

Another place to go is a holistic or traditional rehab clinic. Many rehab facilities have a full range of inpatient, outpatient, and holistic combinations that can help you or a loved one into recovery.

Prescription Medication Recovery, What Happens Next?

Many people ask what comes after rehab. Most addicts simply get back to their life. They move on and recover what they lost through the addiction. Each person is different and although there might still be underlying conditions requiring treatment, the point of rehab is to get your life back. Recovery continues throughout life and the skills that you learn, benefit you not just in prescription drug addiction recovery but in the rest of your life as well.

You Can Break the Prescription Medication Addiction

You can end the endless cycle of addiction. Now that you recognize the problem, it is time to get your life back. Although it might seem hard and the road may seem long, it is possible to end prescription medication addiction.