Prescription drug abuse is a serious problem in the United States. According to a 2016 report by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, approximately two million people have a substance abuse disorder involving prescription pain relievers. There are many legitimate reasons why addictive pain relievers are prescribed, including surgery, chronic conditions and injuries. But the unfortunate truth is that many people end up abusing their own—or someone else’s pills.
When a person takes a prescription drug for a nonmedical reason, it can quickly lead to addiction and the need for drug treatment.
The drug addiction treatment programs at Harbor Village offer help for those who are abusing prescribed pills. The comfortable, upscale facility is located just outside Miami, Florida. With a professional and empathetic approach, Harbor Village provides detox, inpatient and outpatient care. Programming is governed by the philosophy that addiction is a chronic, but treatable disease, like diabetes. The programs at Harbor Village are designed to treat every client as an individual and build a treatment plan that addresses their specific needs.
Taking prescribed medications, even as directed, can lead to physical and psychological dependence. The brain becomes accustomed to the chemical changes caused by the drugs. For example, opioids hit the opioid receptors, depress the central nervous system and increase the presence of dopamine and endorphins. Dopamine signals feelings of pleasure and repeated drug use can cause the brain to stop making and absorbing dopamine naturally. When this happens, a person’s sense of happiness and wellbeing may become dependent on drugs. When the drug wears off, the brain chemistry changes again and physical and emotional discomfort can occur.
At Harbor Village, the staff understands that withdrawal can be difficult, and supervised use of certain medications can help ease the transition. Physically, prescription drug withdrawal can be similar to a particularly bad case of the flu, including symptoms like stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, chills, muscle aches, runny nose, tearing of the eyes and insomnia. Emotionally, individuals are likely to feel anxious, depressed, irritable and agitated in addition to suffering from strong cravings for the drugs. The staff at Harbor Village is trained to deal with these symptoms. The reason medial supervision is recommended during withdrawal is that some functions of the central nervous system that have been regularly suppressed by drugs can become hyperactive during withdrawal, and things like body temperature, respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure can be irregular. Having trained medical staff to supervise the detox process is crucial to the safety and comfort of the individual. Admission to the detox program at Harbor Village is the ideal way to stop taking pain pills safely.
At Harbor Village, the staff is trained to assess each client and prescribe medications designed for treating opioid dependence. When dependence on opioids or other types of prescription drugs is significant, other drugs or alcohol are also used, or there are co-occurring mental health disorders, medical detox is the safest way to approach withdrawal. Detox and medications are only part of the answer for stopping pain pills and staying off them. They can be great tools to help process these drugs out of the body and reach a safe physical balance. However, the emotional, psychological and spiritual aspects of addiction need to be addressed in order to achieve long-term recovery.
Relapse can be particularly dangerous after detox and a period of abstinence. For this reason, the types of therapy and education offered by the inpatient program at Harbor Village are essential in helping clients avoid relapse. Behavioral therapies like CBT, holistic healing and the 12-step approach help individuals learn how to reduce cravings, recognize potential triggers for relapse and form healthy coping skills for handling stress. Therapy and education sessions typically include individual, group and family formats.
The residential addiction treatment program at Harbor Village is recommended in cases of severe or long-term painkiller abuse. This program promotes overall healing and wellness by addressing both physical and emotional needs. For example, therapy improves coping mechanisms and emotional balance through therapy, while physical health is improved with nutritious and balanced meals, regular trips to the gym and a structured sleep schedule. The body and mind both need time to heal without drugs, and the comprehensive addiction treatment program at Harbor Village provides the time and space for this to happen.
Harbor Village knows it is not enough to treat drug addiction through detox alone. Prescription drug abuse is often a symptom of underlying issues, which need to be addressed in order to move forward and live a healthy life. With a professional, caring staff dedicated to helping clients, the programs at Harbor Village are an excellent recovery resource. By treating the both the body and mind and offering a variety of education and therapeutic sessions for both individuals and families, Harbor Village paves the way for life after pills.
Visit Harbor Village at harborvillageflorida.com. Find Harbor Village on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube
Sponsored DISCLAIMER: This is a paid advertisement for California Behavioral Health, LLC, a CA licensed substance abuse treatment provider and not a service provided by The Fix. Calls to this number are answered by CBH, free and without obligation to the consumer. No one who answers the call receives a fee based upon the consumer’s choice to enter treatment. For additional info on other treatment providers and options visit www.samhsa.gov.
