Advances in the field of medicine have led to the availability of a host of drugs that can treat various conditions, allowing people to live comfortable, healthy lives even while suffering from illness. However, these medications are not without their side effects, which include physical dependence or addiction. Even if someone starts taking prescription medications under the advice of a medical professional, there is a risk of it resulting in misuse or abuse. If someone is struggling with an addiction, it is best to seek out a New Hampshire prescription drug treatment center that can help them with their detox.
In Southern New Hampshire, Liberty Health Services offers individualized care in our comfortable luxury facility. Our expert team has experience providing compassionate care to clients wanting to detox from prescription medications. We are committed to ensuring safe, comfortable, and successful recovery through our treatment plans. Contact us at 855.959.4521 to learn more.
What Causes Prescription Drug Dependence?
It may come as a surprise that legal medications can lead to addiction, but it is actually more common than one may assume. Most prescription medications are restricted due to the fact that they are vulnerable to abuse. They are only legal because their benefits in treating illness outweigh the risk of abuse. However, it can be easy to develop a dependence on prescription medications due to the following reasons:
- Sometimes, a person may develop a tolerance to the prescription drug that they are taking, necessitating an increase in dosage, which can ultimately lead to dependency.
- A person’s body may grow accustomed to the presence of the drug in their system, causing them to experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms once they stop taking the drug. This can cause them to continue taking it just to avoid these withdrawal symptoms.
- Prescription medications are highly accessible, allowing for an individual to start taking them even without a prescription if they can be found in their family member’s or friend’s medicine cabinet.
- It is easy for people to self-medicate for pain or sleeplessness by either taking or being offered a loved one’s prescription medication.
Is Depending on Prescription Drugs a Symptom of Addiction?
Physical dependence can happen as a result of drug use, even use that is guided by a legitimate prescription. This is just a normal side-effect of some prescription medications. It is important to differentiate between physical dependence and addiction.
Physical dependence on a drug refers to physical symptoms of tolerance and withdrawal. A person’s body may become accustomed to the presence of the drug in their system. A physician may taper off someone’s dosage in order to alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal when weaning someone off of necessary medication. It is possible to have a physical dependence without being addicted, but physical dependence may lead to an addiction.
Addiction, on the other hand, is marked by the compulsive use of drugs despite any negative consequences it may cause. An addiction may cause people to behave irrationally when they are unable to take the prescription drugs they are addicted to. Here are a few warning signs of prescription drug addiction:
- Using prescription drugs without a prescription or using them at higher doses than recommended by their physician
- Making up symptoms or approaching multiple doctors to get a higher dose or multiple prescriptions
- Being under the influence of or high on drugs for the majority of their day
- Combining various drugs or drinking alcohol to enhance the drug’s effects
If you or a loved one is experiencing dependence on or addiction to prescription medication, it is crucial to reach out for help.
Liberty Health Services Offers Prescription Drug Rehab in New Hampshire
The first step to breaking a physical dependence on prescription medication is to undergo detox. Due to the unpleasant and sometimes life-threatening withdrawal symptoms, detox is best undertaken with the supervision of experienced medical professionals. At Liberty Health Services, we provide a safe, judgment-free environment for clients to recover comfortably. If you or a loved one is struggling with prescription drug dependence, contact us at 855.959.4521 or via our online form to learn how we can help.
