Colorado Prescription Abuse Helpline

1. Colorado Prescription Abuse Helpline Call Our 24/7 Helpline (866) 922-5915 For Treatment Options In Your Area info@coloradoprescriptionabusehelpline.com www.coloradoprescriptionabusehelpline.com

2. About Prescription Drug Prescription drug abuse is very common in the United States. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 52 million people in the nation have used prescription drugs for nonmedical purposes at least once in their lives. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially classified prescription drug abuse as an epidemic in the United States. It is important to spread awareness regarding drug abuse in an effort to reduce the stigma that keeps many addicts from getting help. Call Our 24/7 Helpline (866) 922-5915 info@coloradoprescriptionabusehelpline.com www.coloradoprescriptionabusehelpline.com

3. What is Prescription Drug Abuse? Prescription drugs are abused when taken for reasons or in ways other than those for which the drug was originally intended by the prescribing physician. This can take many forms, including taking the drug to obtain a high, changing its form (crushing pills into powder) or taking more than the prescribed dosage. Consuming another individual’s prescription medication is drug abuse even if taken for its intended purpose. For instance, if an individual has his or her wisdom teeth removed, it is considered drug abuse if the individual then takes a loved one’s prescription Vicodin to manage the pain. Drug dependence develops when an individual’s body adapts to having the substance in its system. The more of any given drug that an individual consumes, the more tolerance that is built, meaning it takes more of the substance to produce the same effect as smaller amounts previously did. When a tolerance is built and the brain craves the substance, withdrawal symptoms develop if the drug is not introduced into the body. This is drug dependence, which often leads to addiction.

4. Types of Prescription Drugs There are three main types of prescription drugs that are abused and those include opioids, stimulants and central nervous system depressants. Prescription drugs affect the brain by altering the actions and production of the neurotransmitters, which send messages to receptors on nearby cells. Each type of drug has a different effect on the brain. Opioids bind to endorphin receptors found on nerve cells responsible for the perception of pain and pleasure. Vicodin and OxyContin are popular prescription opioids, while heroin is a commonly abused, illegal opioid. Stimulants cause an increase in the production of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. Prescription stimulants include Ritalin and Adderall, which are often used to treat individuals with attention-hyper deficit disorder (ADHD) and have effects similar to methamphetamines when taken by individuals who do not have ADHD. Depressants affect the gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitters and endorphins, which affect arousal, judgment and pain relief. Commonly abused prescription central nervous system depressants include Valium and Xanax. Marijuana and alcohol are also depressants.

5. Treatment Facilities Inpatient treatment programs are those in which the individual lives at the facility in which he or she is seeking treatment, which typically resembles a hospital or medical environment. After a recovering addict goes through inpatient treatment, he or she is typically referred to a residential treatment program. Residential treatment programs are similar to inpatient treatment programs in that the individual lives at the facility, however, residential programs provide a home-like environment. These facilities are often in the community without any outside indicators that they are treatment facilities. Residential programs provide a structured and supervised environment for individuals, which is particularly helpful for those who have a stressful or unsafe home life, as their treatment is not compromised by these outside triggers. Once an individual successfully completes residential treatment or decides to step down in treatment, he or she is typically referred to an outpatient program. (866) 922-5915

6. Types of Therapy Individual therapy is used in treatment for drug addiction and has proven to be highly effective. This addresses underlying issues triggering the addiction, reinforces desire for recovery and helps prevent future relapses. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is form of individual therapy that explores the relationship between the thoughts, feelings and behaviors of an individual. This allows a recovering addict and his or her therapist to explore patterns of thinking related to addiction and the motives that drive these patterns. CBT has been proven to change brain activity and is very effective in treating prescription drug abuse and/or addiction, specifically with regard to stimulants and central nervous system depressants. Family therapy and/or couples therapy can help rebuild a recovering addict’s interpersonal relationships that have been damaged or destroyed as a result of his or her prescription drug addiction. (866) 922-5915

7. Contact Us Call Our 24/7 Helpline (866) 922-5915 For Treatment Options In Your Area info@coloradoprescriptionabusehelpline.com www.coloradoprescriptionabusehelpline.com