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Pain Medications & Other Prescription Drugs
Prescription medications such as pain relievers,
tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives are very useful treatment
tools but sometimes people do not take them as directed and may
become addicted. Pain relievers make surgery possible, and enable
many individuals with chronic pain to lead productive lives. Most
people who take prescription medications use them responsibly.
However, the inappropriate or nonmedical use of prescription medications
is a serious public health concern. Nonmedical use of prescription
medications like opioids, central nervous system (CNS) depressants,
and stimulants can lead to addiction, characterized by compulsive
drug seeking and use.
Patients, healthcare professionals, and pharmacists all have roles
in preventing misuse and addiction to prescription medications.
For example, when a doctor prescribes a pain relief medication,
CNS depressant, or stimulant, the patient should follow the directions
for use carefully, learn what effects the medication could have,
and determine any potential interactions with other medications.
The patient should read all information provided by the pharmacist.
Physicians and other healthcare providers should screen for any
type of substance abuse during routine history-taking, with questions
about which prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines the patient
is taking and why. Providers should note any rapid increases in
the amount of a medication needed or frequent requests for refills
before the quantity prescribed should have been used, as these
may be indicators of abuse.
Commonly Abused Prescription Medications
While many prescription medications can be abused or misused,
these three classes are most commonly abused:
- Opioids - often prescribed to treat pain.
- CNS Depressants - used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders.
- Stimulants - prescribed to treat narcolepsy and attention
deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Opioids
Opioids are commonly prescribed because of their effective analgesic,
or pain relieving, properties. Studies have shown that properly
managed medical use of opioid analgesic compounds is safe and
rarely causes addiction. Taken exactly as prescribed, opioids
can be used to manage pain effectively.
Among the compounds that fall within this class—sometimes referred
to as narcotics—are morphine, codeine, and related medications.
Morphine is often used before or after surgery to alleviate severe
pain. Codeine is used for milder pain. Other examples of opioids
that can be prescribed to alleviate pain include oxycodone (OxyContin—an
oral, controlled release form of the drug); propoxyphene (Darvon);
hydrocodone (Vicodin); hydromorphone (Dilaudid); and meperidine
(Demerol), which is used less often because of side effects. In
addition to their effective pain relieving properties, some of
these medications can be used to relieve severe diarrhea (Lomotil,
for example, which is diphenoxylate) or severe coughs (codeine).
Opioids act by attaching to specific proteins called opioid receptors,
which are found in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal
tract. When these compounds attach to certain opioid receptors
in the brain and spinal cord, they can effectively change the
way a person experiences pain.
In addition, opioid medications can affect regions of the brain
that mediate what we perceive as pleasure, resulting in the initial
euphoria that many opioids produce. They can also produce drowsiness,
cause constipation, and, depending upon the amount taken, depress
breathing. Taking a large single dose could cause severe respiratory
depression or death.
Opioids may interact with other medications and are only safe
to use with other medications under a physician’s supervision.
Typically, they should not be used with substances such as alcohol,
antihistamines, barbiturates, or benzodiazepines. Since these
substances slow breathing, their combined effects could lead to
life-threatening respiratory depression.
Long-term use also can lead to physical dependence—the body adapts
to the presence of the substance and withdrawal symptoms occur
if use is reduced abruptly. This can also include tolerance, which
means that higher doses of a medication must be taken to obtain
the same initial effects. Note that physical dependence is not
the same as addiction—physical dependence can occur even with
appropriate long-term use of opioid and other medications. Addiction,
as noted earlier, is defined as compulsive, often uncontrollable
drug use in spite of negative consequences.
Individuals taking prescribed opioid medications should not only
be given these medications under appropriate medical supervision,
but also should be medically supervised when stopping use in order
to reduce or avoid withdrawal symptoms. Symptoms of withdrawal
can include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea,
vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps (“cold turkey”), and involuntary
leg movements.
Individuals who become addicted to prescription medications can
be treated. Options for effectively treating addiction to prescription
opioids are drawn from research on treating heroin addiction.
Some pharmacological examples of available treatments follow:
- Methadone, a synthetic opioid that blocks the effects of heroin
and other opioids, eliminates withdrawal symptoms and relieves
craving. It has been used for over 30 years to successfully treat
people addicted to opioids.
- Buprenorphine, another synthetic opioid, is a recent addition
to the arsenal of medications for treating addiction to heroin
and other opiates.
- Naltrexone is a long-acting opioid blocker often used with highly
motivated individuals in treatment programs promoting complete
abstinence. Naltrexone also is used to prevent relapse.
- Naloxone counteracts the effects of opioids and is used to treat
overdoses.
Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants
CNS depressants slow normal brain function. In higher doses, some
CNS depressants can become general anesthetics. Tranquilizers
and sedatives are examples of CNS depressants.
CNS depressants can be divided into two groups, based on their
chemistry and pharmacology:
- Barbiturates, such as mephobarbital (Mebaral) and pentobarbitalsodium
(Nembutal), which are used to treat anxiety, tension, and sleep
disorders.
- Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide
HCl (Librium), and alprazolam (Xanax), which can be prescribed
to treat anxiety, acute stress reactions, and panic attacks. Benzodiazepines
that have a more sedating effect, such as estazolam (ProSom),
can be prescribed for short-term treatment of sleep disorders.
There are many CNS depressants, and most act on the brain similarly—they
affect the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Neurotransmitters
are brain chemicals that facilitate communication between brain
cells. GABA works by decreasing brain activity. Although different
classes of CNS depressants work in unique ways, ultimately it
is their ability to increase GABA activity that produces a drowsy
or calming effect. Despite these beneficial effects for people
suffering from anxiety or sleep disorders, barbiturates and benzodiazepines
can be addictive and should be used only as prescribed.
CNS depressants should not be combined with any medication or
substance that causes sleepiness, including prescription pain
medicines, certain over-the-counter cold and allergy medications,
or alcohol. If combined, they can slow breathing, or slow both
the heart and respiration, which can be fatal.
Discontinuing prolonged use of high doses of CNS depressants can
lead to withdrawal. Because they work by slowing the brain’s activity,
a potential consequence of abuse is that when one stops taking
a CNS depressant, the brain’s activity can rebound to the point
that seizures can occur. Someone thinking about ending their use
of a CNS depressant, or who has stopped and is suffering withdrawal,
should speak with a physician and seek medical treatment.
In addition to medical supervision, counseling in an in-patient
or out-patient setting can help people who are overcoming addiction
to CNS depressants. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy
has been used successfully to help individuals in treatment for
abuse of benzodiazepines. This type of therapy focuses on modifying
a patient’s thinking, expectations, and behaviors while simultaneously
increasing their skills for coping with various life stressors.
Often the abuse of CNS depressants occurs in conjunction with
the abuse of another substance or drug, such as alcohol or cocaine.
In these cases of polydrug abuse, the treatment approach should
address the multiple addictions.
Stimulants
Stimulants increase alertness, attention, and energy, which are
accompanied by increases in blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration.
Historically, stimulants were used to treat asthma and other respiratory
problems, obesity, neurological disorders, and a variety of other
ailments. As their potential for abuse and addiction became apparent,
the use of stimulants began to wane. Now, stimulants are prescribed
for treating only a few health conditions, including narcolepsy,
attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and depression
that has not responded to other treatments. Stimulants may also
be used for short-term treatment of obesity and for patients with
asthma.
Stimulants such as dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine) and methylphenidate
(Ritalin) have chemical structures that are similar to key brain
neurotransmitters called monoamines, which include norepinephrine
and dopamine. Stimulants increase the levels of these chemicals
in the brain and body. This, in turn, increases blood pressure
and heart rate, constricts blood vessels, increases blood glucose,
and opens up the pathways of the respiratory system. In addition,
the increase in dopamine is associated with a sense of euphoria
that can accompany the use of stimulants.
Research indicates that people with ADHD do not become addicted
to stimulant medications, such as Ritalin, when taken in the form
and dosage prescribed. However, when misused, stimulants can be
addictive.
The consequences of stimulant abuse can be extremely dangerous.
Taking high doses of a stimulant can result in an irregular heartbeat,
dangerously high body temperatures, and/or the potential for cardiovascular
failure or seizures. Taking high doses of some stimulants repeatedly
over a short period of time can lead to hostility or feelings
of paranoia in some individuals.
Stimulants should not be mixed with antidepressants or over-the-counter
cold medicines containing decongestants. Antidepressants may enhance
the effects of a stimulant, and stimulants in combination with
decongestants may cause blood pressure to become dangerously high
or lead to irregular heart rhythms.
Treatment of addiction to prescription stimulants, such as methylphenidate
and amphetamines, is based on behavioral therapies proven effective
for treating cocaine or methamphetamine addiction. At this time,
there are no proven medications for the treatment of stimulant
addiction. Antidepressants, however, may be used to manage the
symptoms of depression that can accompany early abstinence from
stimulants.
Depending on the patient’s situation, the first step in treating
prescription stimulant addiction may be to slowly decrease the
drug’s dose and attempt to treat withdrawal symptoms. This process
of detoxification could then be followed with one of many behavioral
therapies. Contingency management, for example, improves treatment
outcomes by enabling patients to earn vouchers for drug-free urine
tests; the vouchers can be exchanged for items that promote healthy
living. Cognitive-behavioral therapies, which teach patients skills
to recognize risky situations, avoid drug use, and cope more effectively
with problems, are proving beneficial. Recovery support groups
may also be effective in conjunction with a behavioral therapy.
Source: The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) website
(http://www.nida.nih.gov/)
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Pain Medication, Oxy Rehab and Drug Treatment Detox Facility
Seabrook, New Jersey (NJ)
(800)761-7575
Seabrook House is a nationally
recognized, private and exclusive, and CARF accredited inpatient drug rehab and alcoholism rehab treatment center. Our main facility is located in rural Bridgeton, New Jersey (NJ), convenient to New York (NY), Pennsylvania (PA), Maryland (MD), Delaware (DE), Virginia (VA), Washington, DC, Connecticut
(CT), Rhode Island (RI) and Massachusetts (MA). Our extended-care transitional living facility is located in Tioga County, Pennsylvania (PA), within minutes of the New York state border.
Our alcohol and drug rehab campus in New Jersey extends over a 40-acre manicured estate,
providing a serene and healing drug rehab environment. The transitional living facility in Pennsylvania is similarly situated on a 14-acre estate with rolling hills and spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. For over
33 years we have been helping families find the courage to find
recovery from alcoholism, drug addiction, substance abuse such
as marijuana addiction, heroin dependency, cocaine addiction, xanax
abuse, prescription medication abuse and other compulsive diseases.
If you have a loved one that does not want help, don't give up! Many have come to our rehab program and into full recovery as a direct result of a Family Intervention. Call or click now for more information on how family intervention may work for you.
Applying
our research-based recovery treatment center methods for drug addiction
and alcoholism, which we call The Seabrook
House Model®, we assist patients in restoring their lives
by embracing a way of life based upon the 12-Step principles of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA). We apply
a variety of recovery therapies including cognitive behavioral
(CBT) and adjunct therapies including music, yoga, massage, EMDR,
psychodrama, equine assisted, Reiki, and outdoor adventure ropes
course. Belief systems of Adler, Rogers and Jung and many other
psychological theorists are applied during CBT.
Our rich history and CARF accredited quality alcohol and drug addiction treatment rehab
programs have earned Seabrook House a citation in "The 100
Best Treatment Centers for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse - The
Only Complete Guide to the Most Outstanding Drug Rehabs in the
Country" by Linda Sunshine and John Wright. This Avon Publication
is available through most bookstores.
Seabrook House addiction drug rehab center specializes in a withdrawal
treatment for opiate detox i.e. heroin, oxycontin, using specific
medication protocols with Suboxone, whose primary active ingredient
is buprenorphine. Suboxone (buprenorphine / naloxone), at the
appropriate dose, can suppress symptoms of heroin withdrawal,
decrease cravings for opioids, block the effects of other opioids,
and help patients stay in drug rehab treatment. You may also apply
for admission online to our drug rehab center by using our
encrypted Preadmission
Assessment form. Please be assured that your alcohol and drug
rehab addiction treatment records and information are protected
by Federal confidentiality laws and we cannot share your information
with anyone unless you give us written consent. Contact a Clinical Outreach Representative in your area if you have any questions or need further assistance.
Our main drug rehab facility
is located in southern New Jersey (NJ), approximately 1 1/2 hour
drive from Princeton, New Jersey (NJ), Seabrook House's residential
drug rehab addiction recovery treatment services are convenient
to rehab Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA), Radnor, Pennsylvania (PA),
Reading, Pennsylvania (PA), Wilmington, Delaware (DE), Dover,
Delaware (DE) or within a 2 to 3 hour drive from New York City,
New York (NY), Long Island, New York (NY), Bridgeport, Connecticut
(CT), Gaithersburg, Maryland (MD),Washington, DC, Virginia Beach,
Virginia (VA) and Baltimore, Maryland (MD), or within a 5 hour
drive from Boston, Massachusetts (MA), Worcester, Massachusetts
(MA), New Bedford,
Alcoholism
Detox and Substance Abuse Drug Rehab Treatment Rehab Pennsylvania
(PA)
(800)761-7575
We accept addiction treatment admissions 24 hours
per day for rehabilitation services for alcoholism, alcohol withdrawal
and drug withdrawal detoxification,
so please call now if you are in need of immediate assistance
or would like more information about detoxes, drug rehabs, heroin
detox, family intervention, substance abuse treatment or residential
addiction treatment in the New Jersey (NJ), Pennsylvania (PA),
Delaware (DE), New York (NY), Massachusetts (MA), Connecticut
(CT), Rhode Island (RI), Virginia (VA) and Maryland (MD) areas.
Who
Are Seabrook House's Alcohol Rehab and
Drug Addiction Rehab Patients?
Seabrook House's alcohol and drug addiction rehab
patients come primarily from New Jersey (NJ), many from the Cherry
Hill / Haddonfield / Moorestown area, as well as the Princeton
area in central New Jersey and Montclair area in northern New
Jersey. In addition, from the Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania
(PA), the mainline Philadelphia, PA suburbs, New York City (NYC)
including Manhattan (NY), Delaware (DE), Maryland (MD) and other
Mid Atlantic states, although we have treated many from as far
away as Connecticut (CT), Rhode Island (RI), Massachusetts (MA),
New Hampshire (NH), Vermont (VT), California (CA), Bermuda, Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands. They range in age from 17 to 80.
Many of our patients are referred by family members, employers,
large union health & welfare funds, health insurance companies,
small local unions, employee assistance professionals (EAP), and
managed care companies. Many patients transfer directly from hospitals,
other detoxes, community mental health centers, intensive outpatient
programs (IOP), union member assistance programs, and primary
care physicians. We have provided them drug detox, drug rehab,
alcohol detox, alcohol rehab, and many other forms of addiction
treatment. Substance abuse treatment is our specialty.
Because of our close proximity to Manhattan, New
York (NY), New York City (NYC) and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
(PA), Seabrook House addiction rehab center has for many years
provided alcoholism and drug addiction rehab treatment to members
of the arts & entertainment communities. These have included radio,
television, stage and film industry associates from the east coast
as well as California (CA). We understand that high profile individuals
with substance abuse and alcoholism problems may have special
needs related to the media as well as confidentiality issues.
Protecting the anonymity of alcoholic or drug addicted patients
in rehab and controlling media takes experienced addiction professionals.
Many addiction rehabs cannot address these special needs. We understand
that addiction does not discriminate. In addition, many physicians,
nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, lawyers and other professionals
have sought our alcohol rehab and drug addiction rehab treatment
services and gone on to lead happy, healthy, clean and sober lives.
Contact
(800)761-7575 for Immediate Admission for Alcoholism Detox and
Drug Treatment or Family Intervention
Seabrook House addiction rehab center is a licensed
residential addiction treatment facility with 125 beds and provides
alcohol and drug detox treatment and inpatient rehab treatment
through its Adult Rehab Program for both men and women, and its MaterLiber Program, for alcoholic
and drug addicted mothers and their dependent children. We specialize
in detox treatment for opiates such as heroin, morphine, oxycontin,
vicodin, codeine,demerol, fentanyl, methadone, percodan and percocet.
In addition, Seabrook House addiction rehab center offers professional Family
Intervention treatment services to those families attempting
to help a resistant loved one with a substance abuse problem in
need of heroin detoxification or addiction rehab treatment services.
The family education and drug information programs, family intervention
treatment services, and substance abuse counseling treatment services
of Seabrook House have been nationally recognized.Our addiction rehab center and detox program accepts
most health insurance companies, managed care, and union health
& welfare funds for partial payment of its alcoholism and
drug rehab treatment programs. Please review our rates
for all detox and addiction drug rehab programs. When choosing
any alcohol withdrawal and drug addiction rehab treatment center,
follow the CARF
guidelines to ensure that the addiction drug rehab treatment
program you choose is a licensed and accredited substance abuse treatment facility.
Call
our 24 Hour Alcohol Rehab & Drug Treatment Rehab Helpline
for Immediate Detox Addiction Help
Transportation Services for Alcoholism
Detox and Drug Rehab Centers from New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY),
Connecticut (CT), Massachusetts (MA), Rhode Island (RI), Pennsylvania
(PA), Delaware (DE), Maryland (MD), Virginia (VA), Washington,
DC, California (CA), Washington (WA), Oregon (OR), Nevada (NV),
Idaho (ID), Utah (UT), Arizona (AZ)
(800)761-7575
Seabrook House will provide private and discreet
individualized transportation to and from all airports to ensure
the safety and confidentiality of all of our patients. Please
speak to your Admissions Counselor for more information on how
you may qualify for direct airport pickup. Seabrook House also provides "sober escorting"
if the patient is clinically and medically appropriate. This specialized
service offers a Seabrook House staff person to fly to the home
location of the patient and personally pick them up and accompany
them directly to our drug rehab treatment facility. The escort
is an experienced addiction professional, also in recovery from
chemical dependency. Upon discharge the escort will then accompany
the patient to the next level of care at a transitional sober
living environment. Flight times to Seabrook House are brief from many east coast and Midwestern
airports (see chart below). The Philadelphia International Airport
located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA), is the closest airport
to our alcohol detox and drug rehab facility:
From Boston, Massachusetts
(MA) - 45 minute flight time
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From Providence, Rhode Island
(RI) - 45 minute flight time
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From Columbia, South Carolina (SC) - 60 minute flight time
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From Atlanta, Georgia (GA) - 90 minute flight time
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From Miami, Florida (FL) - 2 hour flight time
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From US Virgin Islands (USVI) - 3 hour flight time
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From Columbus, Ohio (OH) -
45 minute flight time
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From Hartford, Connecticut
(CT) - 45 minute flight time
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From Bermuda (BM) - 90
minute flight time
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From Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
(FL) - 2 hour flight time
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From Indianapolis, Indiana
(IA) - 2 ½ hour flight time
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From Los Angeles, California
(CA) - 5 hour flight time
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From Chicago, Illinois (IL) - 3 hour flight time
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Patients coming from out of state may fly into
a variety of airports at discounted airfare rates. All airports are conveniently
located within minutes of the Seabrook House addiction
rehab facility:
Philadelphia International Airport, Pennsylvania (PHL) 45 minute drive
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Atlantic City International
Airport, New Jersey (ACY) 60 minute drive
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Newark International Airport, New Jersey (EWR) 90 minute drive
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Princeton Airport, New Jersey (PCT) 75 minute drive
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John F. Kennedy International
Airport, New York (JFK) 120 minute drive
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LaGuardia Airport, New York (LGA) 120 minute drive
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Baltimore Washington International
Airport, Maryland (BWI) 120 minute drive
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