COVID-19 Information: Our addiction treatment services are still available Learn More
Prescription medications are just as addictive as other substances. The Hader Clinic helps patients break the cycle of addiction with specialised clinical treatments.
We can start treating prescription medication addiction immediately. Get in touch with The Hader Clinic for a Free 60-Minute Consultation. If the patient is in crisis, give us a call. We accept immediate admissions.
Contact usThe term 'prescription medication' covers a range of legal drugs provided by medical and allied health professionals. These are usually administered to address pain, anxiety, and a range of physical, emotional, and psychological afflictions. However, when these active drugs are used outside of legitimate prescriptions, they become prone to abuse and addiction.
Our holistic addiction treatment program takes place at our private hospital. Each patient receives a personal treatment program, made up of different therapies and costs. This highly personal approach to treatment gives each patient the best possible chance at long term recovery.
Abusing prescription medication outside of their recommended usage can have a range of effects. These will vary from drug to drug. Here's a general overview of some effects of addiction.
Withdrawals from prescription medication can vary from drug to drug. The body's reliance on prescription medication can be especially dangerous to withdraw from, and can often result in seizures, coma, and even death. Respiratory failure is also possible for opioids and benzodiazepine.
Other withdrawal symptoms include:
Fortunately, these side effects can be managed and treated. The Hader Clinic employs a highly specialised, multidisciplinary team to help address the physical symptoms of withdrawal, and get started on tackling the psychological machinations of ongoing addiction.
There are three main types of prescription medication that are highly addictive and easily access, leading to a high chance of abuse. These are opioids and opiates, benzodiazepine, and prescription stimulants.
Opioids and opiates are derived from the sap of the opium poppy plant, and are in the same family as morphine and heroin. In medicine, they are typically used to treat severe or chronic pain. They can also make users feel very relaxed with a warm high, which is why they are abused outside of a medical setting.
Here are some of the most common types and brands of opioids:
Benzodiazepine is prescribed to treat a variety of mental disorders and illnesses, including anxiety, panic attacks, seizures, and even withdrawal from other depressants. Overconsumption and abuse of benzodiazepine can lead to an alcohol-like buzz.
Some common brands of benzodiazepine include:
Prescription stimulants can be used to a range of illness, as well as attention disorders like ADD and ADHD. They can aid concentration when taken in the correct doses. When abused, they can lead to psychosis, anger, paranoia, and organ problems, even heart attacks and seizures.
It is incredibly dangerous to combine alcohol and strong prescription medication. Alcohol can amplify the effects of prescription medication in unpredictable ways. Poly drug use of prescription medication and alcohol can lead to dangerous side effects like:
Even small amounts of alcohol mixed with prescription medication can result in a fatal outcome. Alcohol and prescription medications enhance the other by significant degrees. In this situation, dangerous intoxication is made much more likely, leading to overdose and death.
The safest way to take any medication is precisely as the doctor ordered. Upping your dosage or decreasing the time between doses can be a slippery slope towards addiction. Like many other drugs, the more prescription medication you take, the more you need to feel its effects.
If you feel like you are becoming reliant on prescription medication, or you are no longer feeling its effects, talk to your GP. They'll be able to give you options to look at to ensure that you remain free from addiction to prescription medication.
Addiction has absolutely nothing to do with intelligence. It has nothing to do with race, religion, gender, income, or upbringing. It does not discriminate, and at The Hader Clinic, we see people afflicted with prescription medication addiction who come from all walks of life.
It's important to remember that addiction is just that — an affliction. It is a disease that is diagnosable and treatable. The Hader Clinic is a fully accredited private treatment facility that addresses all stages of recovery, from the first stage of withdrawal and detox, to ongoing outpatient support.
Do you have a specific question related to prescription medication addiction? We want to help you learn more. Fill out the form, and we'll be in touch soon.
