Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment for Young Adults

Prescription Drugs Frequently Abused By Young Adults

In almost every home across the country, you can find prescription drugs in easily accessible locations. It is not uncommon to find young adults sharing prescriptions with friends to “help” them, and many believe that because a doctor prescribed the drugs, they are safe for anyone to use. There are three categories of prescription drugs that young adults frequently abuse including:

How Pain Pill Dependency Can Turn Into Addiction In Young Adults

Pain pills and other prescription drugs have incredible relaxation effects that can numb the greatest physical or emotional pain. Once a young adult begins to rely on a drug to get through the day, fear of pain returning increases the likelihood that the dependency turns into an addiction. Coupled with the body’s increased tolerance for pain pills over time, the growing number of young adults stumbling into addiction is on the rise.

For this reason, it’s crucial to monitor prescription drug use and identify signs of abuse, which can include:

• Asking for early refills of a prescription, losing it or consuming it faster than indicated by a doctor
• Taking or borrowing medications from family or friends
• Crushed or broken up pills that can be identified by powder residue
• Multiple visits to different doctors
• Forging or stealing prescriptions
• Inconsistency of responses when asked about prescription drug usage
• Changes in normal sleeping habits
• Mood swings and irritability in the absence of access to prescription drugs
• Increased alcohol dependency

Prescription Drug Abuse Treatment Options

Treatment for prescription drug abuse will vary greatly depending on the type of drug a young adult is abusing, but typically includes both therapy-based and medication treatment throughout the following stages:

Detox

• Detoxing from pain pill addiction can be sickening and life-threatening making it crucial to find a treatment program with medically trained chemical dependency specialists
• Can last from several days to a few weeks, which can be much more comfortable if medically-supervised
• Learn more about our approach to prescription drug detox

Inpatient & Residential Treatment Centers

• Inpatient/residential treatment can last anywhere between 90 days to over a year and provides young adults with the time needed to learn and practice coping skills to maintain sobriety can be more expensive, but clients have access to 24/7 care from professional staff who can support them at a moment’s notice
• Learn more about our residential rehab for young adults

Outpatient Treatment Programs

• Young adults meet with a therapist or support group regularly to maintain sobriety, but may continue to encounter stressors, triggers, and enablers that discourage sobriety
• While typically a less-expensive option, is usually not as effective as inpatient treatment on it’s own
• Learn more about outpatient treatment as a step in recovery

Sober Living & Aftercare

• Sober living communities allow clients to have jobs, work on their education, and live independently
• Best suited for after a residential program so the young adult has had a chance to practice using coping skills away from triggers
• Learn more about the sober living component of our program

Holistic Programs & Alternative Treatment

• Often used in conjunction with traditional therapeutic practices, but does not function well as standalone treatment option for prescription drug addiction
• Learn more about the alternative and holistic features of our program

Wilderness Therapy Programs

• An immersive first step in recovery that removes clients from familiar environments and forces them to focus on their sobriety as they learn survival skills while completing therapy
• Generally last a couple of weeks and are immediately followed by treatment
• Learn more about wilderness therapy as a first step in recovery

Features of Successful Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment Centers

Young adults are unique and require unique treatment programs. In our experience, programs that incorporate the following provide the best shot at long-term sobriety:

Age-Specific Prescription Drug Treatment

• Age-specific groups make it easier for young adults to open up and express themself, thus combatting feelings of isolation or loneliness
• Learn more about how we tailor prescription drug treatment to young adults

Long-Term Addiction Treatment Programs

• Long-term treatment is proven to be more successful in helping clients maintain sobriety from substances like prescription drugs and helps them develop skills to keep it up independently
• While there are greater costs associated, young adults are removed from friends and family for long periods to reduce the risk of relapse in early sobriety due to negative influences
• Learn more about the structure of our long-term treatment program

Prescription Drug Treatment With Gender-Specific & Co-ed Elements

• Gender-specific treatment can create a safe space to discuss sensitive topics related to prescription drug addiction and can help build a support network of peers who easily relate to one another
• Combined groups allow young adults to get used to communicating with and being around the opposite gender just as they will have to in real life
• Learn more about the male-specific and female-specific elements of our program

Treatment Away From Triggers

• Being far away from home removes the influence of enabling peers who may share prescription drugs and environments where they are easily accessible
• While young adults are removed from the comforts of their home, they’re less likely to experience triggers that could threaten sobriety

Treatment With A Mental Health Focus

• Dual-diagnosis addiction treatment addresses the underlying causes of addiction and ensures mental health conditions are equally treated
• Clinical treatment ensures clients get in-depth physical and mental care which may include drug testing, nutritional plans, and multiple therapies
• Learn more about our dual-diagnosis treatment, which includes neuropsychology, individual and group therapy, experiential therapy and more

Intervening In A Young Adult’s Prescription Drug Addiction

Prescription drug abuse can become dangerous quickly. In some cases, it can lead to abuse of other illicit substances such as heroin that elicit a similar high. While it may be difficult to detect, it is important to intervene as soon as you realize a problem may be developing.

For a more effective intervention, explore our tips for leading an intervention with a young adult.

The Cost of Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment Centers

Costs can range depending on the type of program, the location, the size of the facility, and the duration of your stay. For instance, inpatient treatment programs tend to be more expensive because they typically require longer stays and include housing, food, and cost of amenities. Other treatment programs have low-cost options to ensure clients still have access to the treatment they need. Some have even introduced a sliding-scale fee that is based on income levels. It’s best to verify your insurance with every program you’re considering to get familiar with your options.

While exploring the potential cost of treatment, be aware that there are fraudulent establishments as well. You can usually identify the frauds by asking if the facility or staff members are licensed, visiting facilities in person, and speaking with parents of clients who have been through the program.

Prescription Drug Treatment At Sober College

At Sober College, young adults have access to an extensive team dedicated to helping them overcome their prescription drug addiction. Whether you are or aren’t yet sure that a young adult is dealing with addiction give the Sober College team a call at 424.229.4179 or send us a message. If you don’t hear from us immediately, you will within 24 hours.

Continue reading to learn more about our innovative rehab for young adults struggling with addiction.