What Are the Treatments for Prescription Drug Abuse?
Although most Americans take prescription drugs as prescribed and addiction is rare, there are still many individuals who take them irresponsibly. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in 2003, 15 million Americans cited using prescription drugs for non-medical purposes at least once in the year. Fortunately, there is treatment available for prescription abuse.
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Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs
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The most frequently abused prescription drugs include opioids (prescribed to relieve pain); central nervous system depressants (sedatives and tranquilizers for anxiety and sleep issues); and stimulants (prescribed for sleep disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).
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Prescription Opioids Treatment
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By blocking the effects of opioids such as OxyContin, naltrexone is effective in treating opioid addiction and overdose. Methadone blocks opioids' effects, eradicates the withdrawal symptoms and alleviates drug craving.
Stimulant Treatment
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According to the NIDA, there are no proven medications available for stimulant (e.g. Ritalin) addiction. However, behavioral therapy, which focuses on changing the drug abuser's attitudes toward his drug abuse, can be useful. The first step in treating a stimulant addict may be to taper off his dosage, followed by behavioral therapy.
CNS Depressant Treatment
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Individuals addicted to central nervous system (CNS) depressants such as barbiturates should not abruptly stop taking the drug because the withdrawal symptoms are severe. There is no proven treatment for CNS depressant addiction; however, medically assisted detoxification should be sought so the usage can be tapered off. Behavioral therapy should also be used.
Statistics
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According to the 2008 Monitoring the Future survey, 4.7 percent of 12th graders and 3.9 percent of 10th graders reported annual non-medical use of OxyContin.
References
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