Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment in Asheville

Prescription Drug Misuse & Abuse in North Carolina

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Prescription drugs are used to treat a wide variety of illnesses, medical conditions, and health concerns. Although these medications have many legitimate uses, many also have a certain potential for abuse.

It is estimated that as many as 18 million people in the U.S. over the age of 11 have taken prescription medications for non-medical purposes. This is known as prescription drug misuse, and it can quickly lead to abuse or even addiction. If you or someone you love is struggling with a prescription drug use disorder, know that help is available. It can be extremely difficult to break the cycle of abuse on your own, but the team at Carolina Recovery Solutions is here to provide the personalized support, care, and treatment you need. At our beautiful, welcoming facility located near Asheville in the Appalachian Mountains, we offer a wide range of prescription drug addiction treatments. We customize our program and rely on effective, proven techniques to help our patients on the path to recovery and long-term sobriety.

To learn more about our prescription drug addiction treatment in Asheville and the nearby areas, call (828) 383-8328 or contact us online today.

What Is Prescription Drug Misuse, Abuse & Addiction?

Prescription drug use disorders include the misuse and abuse of prescription medications, as well as prescription drug addiction.

While these disorders are similar, there are several key differences that distinguish each of them:

• Prescription Drug Misuse: Prescription drug misuse occurs when a person uses a prescription medication in any way other than prescribed by a medical professional. This includes someone who has been prescribed a drug for a valid medical purpose but begins taking the medication more frequently or in higher doses than instructed. It also includes someone who has not been prescribed a drug but, instead, takes someone else’s medication. For example, “borrowing” a family member’s Ambien to fall asleep or taking a friend’s Adderall to prepare for a test at school are both examples of prescription drug misuse.
• Prescription Drug Abuse: Prescription drug abuse is similar to misuse in that a person uses a prescription medication in a way that has not been approved by a medical professional. However, prescription drug abuse is slightly different in that a person who abuses prescription drugs has likely built up a tolerance or dependency on the medication. Prescription drug abuse is typically characterized by frequent and/or regular misuse of prescribed medications or even a compulsive desire to take prescription medications, whether they have been prescribed to the individual or not.
• Prescription Drug Addiction: Prescription drug addiction occurs when someone has developed a dependency or addiction to prescription medications, regardless of whether they have been prescribed the medications or not. Addiction is generally characterized by a compulsive desire to continue using a drug despite negative consequences. It is also characterized by withdrawal symptoms when the person is not using the prescription drug. At this point, it can be extremely difficult if not impossible for an individual to discontinue drug use without professional help.

Most often, prescription drug misuse leads to abuse and addiction. It is rare for a person to become addicted to a prescription medication after the first use. However, someone who has been prescribed a medication to treat a valid condition may find themselves experiencing unpleasant and uncomfortable symptoms after the prescription runs out, even when they take the medication as prescribed. This can cause the individual to seek out the drug and continue taking it, which can quickly develop into an increased tolerance, dependency, and even full-blown addiction.

Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs

Many prescription medications are powerful, highly addictive substances. As such, they have a high potential for misuse, abuse, and addiction.

Some of the most commonly misused and abused prescription drugs include:

• Opioids: Commonly abused prescription opioids include fentanyl, hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin), acetaminophen-oxycodone (Percocet), and acetaminophen-hydrocodone (Norco)
• Depressants: Commonly abused central nervous system depressants include prescription medications such as zolpidem tartrate (Ambien), alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and sertraline (Zoloft)
• Stimulants: Some of the most commonly abused prescription stimulants include amphetamines (Adderall), methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta), and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), among other medications
• Benzodiazepines: Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are similar to and include some central nervous system depressants; commonly abused prescription benzodiazepines include clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), and more

While any prescription drug has the potential for misuse and abuse, more powerful and addictive medications are more likely to lead to addiction.

How Are Prescription Drug Use Disorders Treated?

Like other types of substance abuse and addiction, prescription drug use disorders can be difficult to overcome without professional treatment. At Carolina Recovery Solutions, we recognize that every situation is unique, and no two addictions are exactly alike. Numerous factors—including the type of prescription drug being misused or abused, the level of addiction, genetic makeup, environment, and other personal factors—all play a role in how prescription drug use disorders are treated.

We offer truly personalized and integrated prescription drug addiction treatment in Asheville and the surrounding areas. We utilize a whole-person approach that accounts for each individual patient’s background, medical history, cooccurring mental health disorders (if any), underlying trauma (if any), environment, and more. We then use this to develop a custom treatment program aimed at achieving long-term success.

Depending on the specific details of your situation, we may recommend the following treatments:

• Residential rehab
• Intensive outpatient treatment
• Treatment therapies
• Life skills development and enhancement
• Medical detox in a safe, supervised environment
• Aftercare

Our team comprises licensed therapists, registered nurses, case managers, addiction specialists, and on-site acupuncturists and yoga instructors, all of whom work together to create a unique and effective recovery experience for our family of patients.

If you or someone you love is struggling with prescription drug abuse or addiction, contact Carolina Recovery Solutions online or call us at (828) 383-8328 today to speak to a friendly and professional member of our staff.