On This Page:

• Guidelines for Safe Usage of Prescription Pills
• Signs of Prescription Pill Addiction
• Treatment for Prescription Pill Addiction in Georgia

Guidelines for Safe Usage of Prescription Pills

Due to the increase of prescription pill abuse, the FDA released guidelines for safe prescription medication use. These guidelines include:

• Make sure you carefully follow the prescription directions
• Make sure you understand how the drug affects your driving and performance of daily tasks
• Make sure you understand how the drug interacts with alcohol or other medications
• Make sure you are honest with your doctor if you have a history of substance abuse
• Do not raise or lower the dosage without consulting your doctor first
• Do not stop taking the medication without your doctor’s approval
• Do not crush or break the pills, especially if you’re taking a time-released capsule
• Do not allow other people to take your prescriptions
• Do not take someone else’s prescription medication

Signs of Prescription Pill Addiction

Research conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that people most commonly abuse opioids, central nervous system depressants, and stimulants. People who use prescription drugs for only a short-term or under a doctor’s strict supervision rarely end up addicted or dependent upon prescription pills. However, long-term or recreational use is what leads to addiction. Addiction to prescription pills is a process that happens slowly, and many people don’t notice the moment it shifts from recreational abuse to an intense addiction. However, when the addiction sets in, it is so physically and mentally demanding that many people are unable to change their habits on their own. Addiction to prescription pills occurs when the user’s brain cannot function without the presence of the drugs. This means that the drugs have altered the brain’s chemistry so that the brain believes it needs continued use. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence lists the signs of drug dependence as:

• Tolerance—a person can no longer get the same effect of drug from a normal dosage and they must increase the dosage to feel the desired effect
• Withdrawal—a person feels physically or mentally ill whenever they attempt to stop taking the drug
• Loss of control—a person no longer has control over when they take it or how much they take due to the intensity of the addiction
• Inability to stop using—a person cannot quit or cut back on the pills regardless of how much they wish to do so
• Continued use despite negative consequences—a person continues to use the pills despite getting arrested, dealing with medical crises, or encountering other terrible life events due to drug use
• Intense focus—a person prioritizes the drug over family, friends, pets, careers, and even hobbies

Treatment for Prescription Pill Addiction in Georgia

Those with prescription drug habits are among the drug users that require specialized help because they need medical detox services. When people come to Mount Sinai to rid themselves of prescription pill dependency, we combine nonaddictive medicinal detoxification with cognitive behavioral therapy and support group work. During behavioral therapy, we help patients understand how the addiction came about and what must be done to prevent it from returning. Therapy allows patients to practice certain coping mechanisms and activities to avoid triggers so that they can emerge from our wellness center with the proper skills to avoid relapse and overcome any challenges the real world provides. We also spend time helping patients identify their triggers so they will be less likely to encounter them, feel anxious because of them, or risk relapse due to them.