Prescription Drug Abuse in Rochester, NY

Prescription drug abuse is a massive problem across the United States, including the abuse of opiates, sedatives, and stimulants. While illegal drugs such as meth and heroin get the majority of media attention, prescription drug abuse is responsible for more drug-induced deaths than all illegal drugs combined. Prescription drug abuse often leads to dependence and addiction over time, with professional drug treatment often needed to help break the bonds of addiction. If you know anyone in Rochester or elsewhere who is struggling with prescription drug abuse, Let Drug Detox Centers Rochester be your guide.  

How are Prescription Drugs Abused?

Prescription drugs can be misused and overused in a range of different ways. Common methods of abuse include increasing dosage levels, combining medications, using medications intended for someone else, and crushing up tablets to snort or inject them. Methods of abuse are largely dependent on the substance in question, with some people abusing existing prescriptions and others obtaining prescriptions fraudulently to use drugs for recreational reasons. Generally speaking, prescription medications are abused every time they are taken in a different way than prescribed by a medical professional. Most prescription drug abuse falls into three categories: opiate abuse, sedative abuse, and stimulant abuse.

Drug Categories

Opiate painkillers are the most widely abused category of prescription drugs, including Oxycontin, Vicodin, morphine, fentanyl and many others. These drugs are abused to induce euphoria and depress the central nervous system (CNS), with physical dependence and addiction possible with extended abuse. Sedatives are the second most widely-abused category of prescription drugs in Rochester and across the United States, including the brand name benzodiazepines Valium and Klonopin. These drugs are taken for their sedative and hypnotic properties, with physical dependence and addiction possible with extended abuse. Stimulants are the third most widely-abused drug category, including Adderall, Ritalin, and Concerta. While these medications are not capable of causing physical-somatic withdrawal symptoms, psychological dependence and addiction are still possible.  

Medical Detox

Medical detox is the process and experience of drug withdrawal in a medically supervised setting. Both opiates and sedatives are known to produce distinct physical-somatic withdrawal symptoms when drug use is stopped, with medications often applied to help reduce and manage withdrawal symptoms. Despite the lack of physical symptoms, stimulant abuse can still be treated through detox, which is used to enforce abstinence and promote stability prior to rehabilitation and other forms of drug treatment.   

Drug Treatment

The drug treatment process often begins with intervention and detox, followed by rehab and aftercare support. While detox enables the cessation of drug use in a safe and supportive medical setting, it does not address the social, emotional, or environmental issues that proceed drug addiction.

Inpatient and outpatient rehab provides psychotherapy and relapse prevention programs, including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and 12-step support groups. Relapse prevention plays a vital role in this process, with recovering drug addicts taught how to recognize triggers, avoid high risk situations, and cope with the challenges of life as they arise. If you need to access drug treatment services in Rochester, just call Drug Detox Centers Rochester at (585) 666-2832 to speak with one of our caring recovery advocates.