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Treatment for Prescription Drug Addiction

Prescription medications can be life-changing. However, some medications—especially opioids, CNS depressants (like benzos), and stimulants—carry a risk of addiction when misused or taken long-term. What starts as a prescribed treatment can sometimes lead to dependence, making it difficult to stop without support.

Recovery doesn’t end with detoxing from an addiction, it also includes addressing the causes of your addiction and learning better tools to cope with difficult things. At Eleanor Health, our recovery services for prescription drug addiction include therapy and peer support as well as detox to help you get better. All our services are available online. Reach out today to get started!

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Online Prescription Drug Addiction Rehab

Virtual treatment allows people to get the professional care they need from the comfort of home, eliminating barriers like travel, scheduling conflicts, or stigma. At Eleanor Health, our online rehab services provide the same evidence-based care as traditional in-person treatment. You decide your treatment goals, and our clinical team helps you get there.

With online appointments and monitoring, we help you taper off and detox from addictive medication. At the same time, you also start working with a therapist and a peer recovery specialist to tackle the emotional, mental and practical challenges of addiction – all from the comfort of your own home or other preferred location.

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Commonly Misused Prescription Drugs

Some prescription drugs, like opioids, benzodiazepines, and stimulants, are commonly misused because of their powerful effects. The most common prescription drug addictions include opioids, central nervous system (CNS) depressants and stimulants.

Opioids

Opioids are powerful pain-relieving medications that interact with the brain’s opioid receptors. While effective for managing severe pain, these drugs can be highly addictive due to their euphoric effects. Opioid meds like hydrocodone, oxycodone, and fentanyl are often the cause of an opioid use disorder (OUD). While not everyone becomes addicted after using opioids once or twice, some people feel a strong urge to keep using opioids to maintain that euphoric feeling. Over time, this can cause physical dependence, with symptoms like cravings and mood changes when trying to stop.

Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants

Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants are used to treat anxiety, panic disorders, and sleep problems. They cause a relaxation effect. Prolonged use can lead to tolerance, meaning that people may need to take higher doses to achieve the same effects. Some people may also misuse these medications to enhance feelings of euphoria or to counteract the effects of stimulants. Common types of CNS depressants include benzodiazepines (like Xanax or Valium), barbiturates, and non-benzodiazepine sleep aids (such as Ambien).

Stimulants

Stimulants are a class of drugs that increase activity in the central nervous system (CNS), boosting energy, alertness, and focus. Stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin are commonly prescribed to treat conditions like ADHD and narcolepsy. These medications can also be misused for their euphoric and performance-enhancing effects. This misuse can lead to undesirable side effects like jitteriness, anxiety, and insomnia. Overuse can also cause risky behavior, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of stroke.

Why Do People Get Addicted to Prescription Drugs?

There are many reasons why people get addicted to prescription drugs. The euphoric or pleasurable effects of the medication are a big part of the reason. But very often, people are dealing with very hard or challenging things in life and find relief in prescription medications – whether they have a prescription for it or not. Many people with addiction also have co-occurring mental health disorders.

Co-Occurring Disorders with Prescription Drugs

Co-occurring disorders refers to someone having both a substance use disorder (SUD) and a mental health disorder at the same time. This is also known as a “dual diagnosis”. It’s common for people with addiction to also have depression, anxiety or PTSD (or other disorders like bipolar disorder or OCD).

Co-occurring disorders happen for many reasons. People with mental health disorders might turn to substances to feel better and eventually develop an addiction (this often happens with painkillers). Developing addiction often causes your mental health to get worse. This creates a cycle where addiction and mental health disorders fuel each other.

If you have a dual diagnosis, treatment shouldn’t focus exclusively on your addiction. It needs to address your mental health too. If it doesn’t, there’s a risk you might relapse because you are not addressing something that plays an important role in your addiction.

Treating a Prescription Drug Addiction

It’s ok to ask for help if you are having a hard time trying to quit a prescription drug. That doesn’t always mean that you have an addiction. Talking to a doctor or medical provider can help. They can give you advice on what to do next. If you do have prescription drug addiction, there are treatment options available to help you get better.

Prescription Drug Addiction Rehab Options

Detox

During detox, the person will stop taking the drug and clear it from their body. Sometimes, this is done gradually to make the process easier, instead of quitting the drug all at once. This is called “tapering”.

Therapy

Therapy helps you identify what triggers your addiction and teaches you ways to cope so you don’t go back to using the drug in the future.

Peer Support

People who have overcome addiction and are on their own recovery journey can offer valuable support because they understand the challenges you may be going through.

In some cases, doctors may prescribe medications to help manage withdrawal symptoms during detox.

Online Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment at Eleanor Health

We can help you get better. At Eleanor Health, we don’t just treat the physical symptoms of addiction. We also work with you to heal from the emotional and mental health challenges that often come with addiction. With our virtual recovery services, you can pursue treatment while you continue living your life. We are here to support you on your journey.

Sounds like Eleanor Health might be right for you?

Call today to speak to one of our recovery specialists. We are ready to listen, learn and offer support without judgment.

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