Prescription Drugs
One of the fastest growing trends
in drug addiction, addiction to
prescription drugs continues to
be a problem throughout North America.
The three most commonly abused groups
of prescription drugs include prescription
opioids (OxyContin, Vicodin, Dilaudid,),
central nervous system (CNS) depressants
(barbiturates and benzodiazepines
like Xanax, Valium, Librium, Mebaral
and Halcion) and prescription stimulants
(Ritalin).
Withdrawal Symptoms
 Because
the withdrawal symptoms of many prescription drug addictions
are similar to their illegal counterparts, the type of symptoms
depends on which group of drug is being abused.
Prescription opioids:
- cold shakes
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- insomnia
- bone pains
CNS depressants:
- confusion, racing thoughts
- severe depression
- seizures
- possible death
Because of its potentially fatal withdrawal symptoms, withdrawal
from barbiturates must be supervised by a medical doctor.
Prescription stimulants:
- depression
- anxiety
- agitation
- insomnia
- nausea
- abdominal cramps
- exhaustion
Treatment
The first stage of any withdrawal process involves a period
of detoxification in order to wean the addict off of his or
her drug dependency. Depending on which drug is being abused,
medical supervision may be required at this stage. Following
detox, various approaches may be used, including pharmaceutical
medications, behavioral therapies, cognitive-behavioral therapies,
support groups and individual counseling. |