The statistics are staggering. At just five percent of the world’s population, the U.S. consumed 75% of the world’s prescription drugs in 2010. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 54.2% of people taking prescription drugs got them from a friend or relative—not their physician. And 62% of teens surveyed said that they take prescription drugs because they are “easy to get from their parents’ medicine cabinet.”
The “Whys” Behind Prescription Drug Abuse
We take medication to alleviate physical and psychological pain, bring us up when we’re down, focus when we’re distracted, and relax when we’re tense. It’s an epidemic—and it is wreaking havoc on our families, marriages, workplaces, and relationships. The need to medicate our problems away begins early. Studies show that more and more adolescents and young adults are self-medicating to deal with life and stress. Earlier this year, WebMD reported that 24% of high school students (over five million kids) have abused some type of prescription drug. The majority of them believe that it is safer than taking street drugs, so they don’t consider it a problem.
The truth is, addiction is addiction, no matter what you are addicted to. The intense cravings, poor decisions, and compulsive pill seeking behaviors are part of a “short circuit” in the brain: a disease that impacts learning, memory, and our ability to control our behavior. It takes more than willpower to stop abusing prescription drugs. If you have been dabbling in prescription pills for a long time—or have recently become physically dependent on prescribed painkillers or medication for ADD, help is here.
Holistic Treatment for Prescription Drug Abuse
At Red Oak Recovery, we are experts in prescription drug addiction rehab. Combining traditional addiction treatment programs with holistic therapies, nutrition therapy, and mindfulness techniques, we have a high success rate in addiction recovery and relapse prevention. If you began using prescription painkillers because you have a documented medical condition, holistic therapy options like acupuncture and eco-therapy are often a beneficial alternative to the drugs you’ve come to rely on. Specializing in wilderness experiences and team building, we teach clients to get in touch with a reality beyond drugs and step out of their comfort zone to develop pro-social coping mechanisms.
Get Help for Prescription Drug Abuse
Don’t become a statistic. If prescription drug addiction has a hold on your life, make the call today. Red Oak Recovery intake specialists are available 24/7. Our clinically driven adventure therapy program is rooted in evidence-based research that has helped thousands of young men and women recover—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—from prescription medication abuse. Call 866.457.7426now.
