Home » Substance Abuse Treatment » Prescription Drugs
Prescription drug abuse can quickly develop when people begin using a medication for a reason other than what their doctor intended.
If you are addicted to a prescription drug, you’re not alone. Experts estimate that over 18 million people use prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons every year. Just because this addiction is common, however, doesn’t mean it’s not serious. Cedar Oaks Wellness Center offers a variety of treatment options to help people quit their prescription drug addictions and commit to a healthy lifestyle. When you check into our Cincinnati treatment center, you can expect to be treated with compassion and respect as we work together to help you reclaim your life.
Opioids are prescribed to treat pain, which is why they’re commonly referred to as painkillers. Common opioids include codeine, morphine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. In the 90s, doctors across the country prescribed opioids at a fast rate, and pharmaceutical companies maintained that their drugs weren’t addictive. Fast forward to today, and the U.S. is experiencing an ongoing opioid crisis that many organizations are labeling an epidemic.
2018 data reported that every day, around 128 people die from an opioid overdose in the United States. In 2017 alone, more than 47,000 people died from opioid overdose. Opioids are highly addictive, and they work to prompt the brain to release dopamine so users feel euphoric. Over time as people develop a tolerance, however, they tend to need more of the drug to feel the same high, which is how overdose can occur.