Prescription pill addiction affects people from all classes, races, ages and socio-economic backgrounds.  It happens when a person becomes physically and psychologically dependent on opiate-based painkillers, and needs to take increasingly more of them to feel “normal” and avoid the painful symptoms of withdrawal.  Many people do not realize that common painkillers such as Vicodin, Percocet, Oxycontin, and Codeine are highly addictive and in some individuals, and prescription pill addiction can occur as quickly as six to eight weeks after continuous use of these substances.  This can happen to people who have no history of substance abuse – a grandmother recovering from hip surgery, a delivery person medicating an injury so he can keep working, even a teenager who finds these prescriptions in the family medicine cabinet.  But all those who have fallen prey to prescription pill addiction know the painful consequences on their lives, health and relationships.

Many people used to consider prescription pill addiction a failure of the will or a moral lapse, but new research suggests that prescription pill addiction is in fact a medical condition that develops over time, not unlike high blood pressure or diabetes.  Excessive use of prescription pills causes changes in the brain that radically alters the brain’s motivational control circuits.  These changes can persist, even after a person stops using the drugs.  Current research indicates that a combination of medication and counseling offers the highest chance of successful prescription pill detox.  At the Reliance Center™, we have created a treatment program that combines the science-based medicine Suboxone with compassionate, patient-centered therapy to help free patients from the clutches of prescription pill addiction.  We work with each individual at our SF outpatient facility to design a comprehensive, customized treatment program to address their unique needs and help restore patients to their normal lives.

Prescription pill addiction can create painful withdrawal symptoms when a person stops taking the drugs.  These vary from person to person, but can include nausea, vomiting, chills, sweating, anxiety, muscle pain, insomnia, tremors and headaches.  These symptoms can be very intense, especially during the first week of withdrawal, and the temptation to alleviate the symptoms by using again can be overwhelming.  For that reason, many people require medical intervention to overcome their prescription pill addiction.  At the Reliance Center™, we have developed an prescription pill detox program that utilizes medication-assisted treatment to lessen the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms, in conjunction with individual, group and family counseling and lifestyle modification.  This combination of medicine and therapy creates a much higher likelihood of successful recovery from prescription pill addiction than either of the two treatments used alone.

The first step to a successful prescription pill detox begins when an individual recognizes their prescription pill addiction and their need for help.  At the Reliance Center™, we work with each patient individually to create a gradual program of medically assisted detoxification using Suboxone.  This process eliminates cravings, which allows the patient to continue with their work and family life during recovery.  At the same time, we employ counseling to address the root causes of prescription pill addiction along with ancillary services to help rebuild a healthy lifestyle.  Our highly trained, compassionate Bay Area staff members provide personalized support throughout all the stages of treatment and recovery.  If you or someone you know is struggling with prescription pill addiction, please contact us for a free consultation.

If you would like more detailed information about the prescription pill addiction and the prescription pill detox program at San Francisco’s Reliance Center™, please read about our evidence-based medication and counseling approach on our website, call us today at 415-788-0500, or e-mail us at info@RelianceCenter.com.  Our goal is to help each patient return to a normal, healthy, drug-free life.