Prescription drug addiction is responsible in a big way for fueling the opioid epidemic in America. Due to the ready availability of prescription drugs and the common misconception that they can never harm, many patients and their family members get addicted without realizing the dangers. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), in 2016, an estimated 389,000 adolescents (aged 12 to 17) or about one in 60 adolescents (1.6 percent) abused psychotherapeutic drugs in the past month.
Although prescribed by doctors and provided by pharmacists to treat a physical ailment or chronic pain, prescription medicines can be just as powerful and potentially dangerous as street drugs. When teens begin to use their medication without a medical need, or beyond the amount prescribed by their doctor, it can have serious physical and mental repercussions. Many teens offer their medication to friends or steal it from the family medicine cabinet, resulting in an accidental overdose and death.
Owing to the addictive nature of the drugs and the associated withdrawal symptoms, addiction to prescription drugs requires professional treatment, including prescription drug detox treatment at certified prescription drug detox centers along with psychotherapies at certified rehab facilities. A leader in providing top-notch treatment for mental health and substance abuse, Sovereign Health of Rancho San Diego provides effective prescription drug rehab for adolescents aged 12-17 years. A medically supervised detox program helps the body get rid of the toxins which further prepares the patient for customized, evidence-based treatment modalities, such as cognitive remediation, neurofeedback, and experiential therapies.