The public at large associate drug abuse with illegal drugs like heroin and cocaine. What many people are unaware of is that the numbers of people who engage in prescription drug abuse exceed those for illegal drug abuse. According to figures published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, in 2013 more than 2.04% of the adult population engaged in prescription drug abuse. That means over 6.5 million people admitted to prescription drug abuse.

What is Prescription Drug Abuse?

Authorities define prescription drug abuse as using these drugs in a way that is not prescribed. This means there are numerous uses of prescription drugs that would be considered abuse. These include:

• using prescription drugs that were intended for use by another person
• attending different doctors to get additional prescriptions
• forging prescriptions
• stealing other people’s prescriptions
• pretending to be ill to get a particular prescription
• taking more than the prescribed dose
• taking drugs more often than prescribed
• taking drugs for longer than prescribed

At the more serious end of the scale of prescription drug abuse, people may inject, snort or smoke prescription drugs to increase their potency. Another serious form of abuse is mixing prescription drugs with other drugs or substances to increase their potency.

What are the Most Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the most commonly abused prescription drugs are opioids. Opioids are the painkillers of choice for most doctors. Opioids are effective in the short term at treating moderate to severe pain. Popular brands include OxyContin and Vicodin.

More people become addicted to opioid prescription drugs than to any other kind of prescription drugs. This may be down to the way the body deals with opioids. Opioids affect the functioning of the reward centers of the brain. However, the effects of a particular dose diminish fairly quickly when an opioid drug is used persistently because the brain becomes tolerant to the drug.

When this happens, people have to take more of a particular opioid to get the same pain-relieving effect. This is a perpetual cycle that can quickly get out of hand. People who start off with relatively low doses of opioid drugs can quickly end up taking very large quantities.

Other types of prescription drugs that people commonly abuse include central nervous system depressants and stimulants. The former include drugs like Valium that are used to treat anxiety, while the latter include drugs like Adderall, which is used to treat ADHD.

Dangers Associated with Prescription Drug Abuse

Addiction is a serious and chronic illness that causes many problems. Prescription drug abusers can easily become addicted to those drugs. Prescription drug abusers risk overdosing with potentially catastrophic consequences. Accidental opioid overdose kills more people in the USA every year than any other type of accident.

Prescription drug abuse causes many other health problems. Addicted individuals can neglect other aspects of their health. They can become malnourished and develop infections and other illnesses through their drug use, including heart, liver, kidney and gastrointestinal problems. Let Drug Detox Centers Jersey City be your primary recovery resource. Just give us a call today at (201) 492-6604.

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The recovery journey is not just for addicts. Loved ones suffer along with the addicts – especially when addicts try to manipulate them. Sometimes family and friends do not understand how their own traits contribute to their loved one’s addiction. Usually friends and family become emotionally involved. This is not the answer. It actually gives the addict manipulative powers.

Boundaries are a Must

Emotional, social, and physical boundaries need to be set in order to keep an addict in check. It may be hard at first, but it is worth it. Setting boundaries loosens emotional attachment. Without boundaries, you feed into the addict’s wants and requests.

When an addict tries to manipulate his or her loved ones, he or she cannot recognize it or see it. Boundaries are the key to doing this. That way, you can step back and see the real situation.

Take Good Care of Yourself

Considering your self-care is part of the boundaries you need to set. It will help take the stress off you and allow you to take your mind off your loved one’s addiction. Participate in activities that you enjoy. This will allow you to remove yourself from the situation and focus on yourself. You may think you are helping your addicted loved one, but you’re actually enabling them. Take care of yourself and try not to encourage the addict.

Tough Love

Practicing tough love is very difficult, but it needs to be done. Sometimes it may be the only option. In a lot of cases, addicts look for treatment when people are no longer willing to support their addictive ways. By talking about consequences, you are not hurting your addicted loved one, you are helping them. If they seek help because of you, you possibly will save their lives.

Becoming the rescuer for your loved one’s addiction is not the answer. Only they can choose to make the change. You should also discuss this with them to introduce the idea that change needs to happen if they want to be free of their addiction.

Exude Confidence

Confidence is key. Without it, you will be taken advantage of. Showing that you are confident in yourself and will not give in to your addicted loved one’s manipulation is important. Another benefit of confidence is that positivity is contagious. Positivity can encourage change.

Find Support

You are not fighting this battle alone. A lot of the time, the associated guilt is so overbearing that it makes loved ones hesitant to seek help. But again, this will not help the addict, this will only encourage the addict. Looking in to support groups to talk with others fighting a similar battle against manipulation of addiction will help.

Listening is also an important part of confronting a loved one about addiction. You may feel alone in your world of loving an addict, but you are not. Listen to them, but set boundaries. Practice self-care, encourage tough love, be confident, and find support. If you have a loved one who is struggling with addiction, Drug Detox Centers Jersey City can help. Please call our caring recovery advocates today at (201) 492-6604.

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Depression, Stress, and Other Triggers

When someone begins the rehabilitation and recovery process for a drug or alcohol addiction, it is a laborious journey filled with many stages. During this recovery process, it is crucial to become aware of and keep an eye out for relapse warning signs. Once the initial detoxification course is complete, the addict will begin his or her long-term care protocol to continue on the road to recovery. Long-term care therapies and modalities will become a mainstay in the addict’s life in order to avoid a relapse into drugs and alcohol.

To addicts, relapse is stepping backward’s into old, destructive patterns and behaviors that will take the individual off their current course and potentially back into the world of addiction. While someone can always get back to sobriety after a relapse, it is wise to know the warning signs and relapse prevention techniques in order to prevent it from occurring in the first place.

Knowledge regarding warning signs is one of the best weapons again relapse. Here are the most common to keep an eye out for:

Feeling angry or resentful

Recovery can be tough, and sometimes the person in recovery can feel like their progress is slow, life in recovery isn’t as exciting as their old life, etc. These negative feelings are the perfect excuse for someone to feel like they should begin using drugs or alcohol again to make themselves feel better.

Feeling Overwhelmed

Again, recovery isn’t the easiest road to walk but there are so many resources that can help make it an easier journey. That being said, some people do feel overwhelmed while in recovery. These feelings of not being able to cope with everything that is going on around them could be a major sign of looming relapse. The temptation of drugs and alcohol can lure them into escaping their current reality.

Reconnecting with Old Friends

One surefire way to begin using drugs and alcohol again is by spending time with the old crowd with whom the addict used these substances with prior. Peer pressure and being in environments filled with memories of doing drugs and alcohol may be too enticing for someone in recovery.

Fantasizing about the “Good Times”

Some addicts may begin fantasizing about the good ole’ days when they were using drugs and alcohol, however, our minds play tricks on us and we often paint a much happier picture than what was really taking place. A deep yearning for these “good” times may be enticing enough for an addict to relapse.

Being Absent from Support Groups and Programs

There are many incredible 12-Step programs and support groups for addiction. And while these groups help keep thousands of people on track for the rest of their lives, sometimes hearing others stories can remind people of their old life. They may stop connecting with others in recovery, and if they are slipping back into their old ways, they may stop going to their recovery groups altogether.

Increased Isolation

Becoming withdrawn and isolated is one telltale relapse warning sign that should be taken seriously. Many addicts will withdraw because they are hiding something or do not want to be questioned about their behavior. It is not uncommon for those who have relapsed to completely remove themselves from their daily network of friends, family and recovery partners.

Sobriety and recovery is a new beginning for someone addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. To help prevent relapse, it is wise for the addict to set goals and map out a plan to help him or her achieve these goals. It is also crucial for them to connect with recovery support groups and 12-Step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous.  There are many additional relapse warning signs to look out for, and you can learn more about relapse through Drug Detox Centers Jersey City. Just give our caring recovery advocates a call today at (201) 492-6604. 

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