Prescription medications are legally-regulated medications that require a prescription from a medical doctor to be obtained. When taken as directed these controlled substances have a low risk for addiction. While most individuals take their prescribed medication as prescribed, some individuals can end up with addiction problems. Addition to prescription medication is a serious matter that requires immediate treatment. When the idea of facing the day without taking a pill seems unbearable it may be time to turn to the caring staff at Abilene. You do not have to live your life using the crutch of prescription meds.
Prescription drug abuse is defined as taking prescription medication in a way that is not intended by the doctor, but instead using these controlled substances for the way the drug makes you feel. Drug abuse includes behaviors such as taking a friend’s prescription, “doctor shopping,” forging prescriptions, as well as snorting, injecting, or grinding up pills to get high. Often this behavior continues despite negative consequences.
The prescriptions medications most often abused are pain pills, sedatives, and stimulants. Painkillers are prescribed to provide relief to individuals experiencing moderate-to-severe pain. Commonly abused painkillers include Vicodin and Oxycodone (OxyContin). In addition to pain relief, this class of medication produces effects such as drowsiness, weakness, and dizziness as well as pleasurable relaxation.
Sedatives, also known as tranquilizers, are medications that act as central nervous system depressants. These medications are used to help relieve symptoms of anxiety, tension, and sleep disorders. Sedatives are often abused to create feelings of euphoria.
Stimulants, including Adderall and Ritalin, are used for temporary improvement of alertness, focus, and productivity. Individuals may abuse this class of medication to obtain feelings of exhilaration, increase energy, and boost mental alertness. Stimulant abuse is a rapidly growing problem among teens and young adults.
The continued abuse of prescription medication can leave a widespread path of destruction. At Abilene we are here to clean up the mess created by prescription drug addiction. We want you to live a sober life, free from the shackles of addiction.
Why You Should Consider Inpatient Treatment at Abilene
Addition to prescription medication is a chronic, relapsing condition that worsens without treatment. This addiction can cause many dire consequences such as job loss, school impairment, and strained social relationships due to isolation from loved ones. You may experience sudden changes in your personality, have angry outbursts, or suffer from periods where you lack motivation. Additionally, medication addiction can cause a number of adverse health effects like tremors, fluctuations in weight, damage to organ systems, coma, or death due to overdose.
Inpatient treatment for prescription drug abuse is one of the most effective ways to successfully treat addiction to prescription medication. At Abilene we understand that the development of substance addiction can come about for a variety of different reasons. Personal life circumstances, such as a co-occurring underlying mental health issues or other life stressors are what make you a unique individual. Since you are not like anyone else, we work to develop a treatment plan based on your personal needs. Our full continuum of care will allow you get the most appropriate care available.
Your specialized treatment team is ready to work with you during your treatment and recovery process. We know that facing the circumstances surrounding your addiction can leave you feeling vulnerable, and we’re here to offer you much-needed comfort in your time of need. By setting realistic goals you can learn new coping mechanisms for dealing with outside stressors that can help prevent you from turning to prescription meds. In addition to treating your addiction and co-occurring disorder symptoms we work to heal your mind, body, and spirit.
Program Philosophy and Benefits
Abilene Behavioral Health wants to reestablish a sense of hope in every individual that comes to us. Our fully-trained compassionate staff is determined to provide individualized quality healthcare that works for you. We provide you with a supportive caring environment that promotes healing and personal growth. Abilene is dedicated to maintain the standard of excellence in the treatment of mental health and addiction recovery. We pride ourselves on our excellent care, remarkable customer service, and unwavering commitment to our patients.
Treatment Options We Employ At Abilene
Research has shown that the best way to treat addiction to prescription drugs is to combine carefully administered medication with therapeutic interventions. If you have an addiction problem you will likely be placed in our dual diagnosis program. This program is designed to help individuals dealing with substance addiction as well as a psychiatric diagnosis. This program focuses on addressing both components equally. Abilene employs the 12-step model for our dual diagnosis program, encouraging individuals continued participation in Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) or Narcotics Anonymous (N.A).
Your first step in this program may be detoxification from all substances in your system. Detox is performed in a closely monitored environment to rid your body of the substances in a safe manner. During the detox process you may need medication for stabilization and to help relieve the unpleasant symptoms associated with withdrawal. Once you have completed detoxing you will be ready to fully engage in the treatment process.
In addition to the detox process, medication may be used. Certain people use carefully controlled medications on a short term basis until they are better equipped to cope with life stressors. Others use medication on a longer term basis to manage symptoms of another disorder. Medication needs will be determined by your specialized treatment team. In addition to medication, you will be involved in a number of therapeutic methods.
Individual therapy sessions allow you to work directly with a therapist to explore the problems prescription drug addiction has caused in your life. We will also use these sessions to uncover underlying issues that may have added to the development of your addiction and address symptoms related to co-occurring disorders.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy works to change the negative ways in which you think by replacing them with more positive thoughts. By replacing the negative ways of viewing the world, CBT will help change unhealthy behaviors, such as using prescription pills in an unauthorized way.
Rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) is a form of therapy makes you aware that your distress is your responsibility. This allows you to take charge of eliminating emotional and behavioral problems. By eliminating these challenging emotions and behaviors you can focus on leading a productive and happy life.
Family and other loved ones are often involved in an individual’s addition. Family therapy is designed to help unearth problematic family dynamics and allow loved ones the opportunity to express how your addiction has affected them. Additional information will be provided to help loved ones understand addiction and the treatment process.
Group therapy is an important part of the treatment process as groups allow you to see you are not the only one facing struggles in life. Through process-based and psycho-educational groups you will be able to discuss certain topics, gaining the understanding and support of those around you.
Abilene offers additional experiential programs to compliment traditional therapies. These may include:
- A.A. and N.A.
- Spiritual counseling
- Music therapy
- Yoga therapy
- Anger management
Continuing Care – What Happens Next?
When you have completed the inpatient program at Abilene, an aftercare plan will be developed to make sure you receive continuing care. The goal of the aftercare plan is to ensure there is a structure in place that allows you to remain successful once you have left our doors.
We offer a variety of outpatient services at Abilene that include Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP), Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP), and traditional outpatient treatment. Each program seeks to help you successfully integrate back into your community. Each program provides services such as medication management, individual sessions, and family sessions. We also have lodging for individuals who live far from Abilene while they work the program.
If you or someone you love is living with depression, please contact the caring staff at Abilene today. We will provide a confidential consultation and help determine the next appropriate steps.