Prescription Drug Treatment Program
With so many medications directly marketed to consumers, it’s no wonder that addiction to prescription drugs is on the rise. Morningside Recovery is well-suited to deal with all of the variables when treating clients addicted to prescription drugs. The growing problem with addiction to prescription drugs can be understood as a response to stress. We crave medication that is stress-relieving, pain-relieving, relaxation-promoting, and emotionally-numbing. In some cases, dependence on these medications can occur in just a few weeks. Anti-anxiety drugs like Ativan and Klonopin; ADHD meds like Ritalan; sleeping pills zolpidem (Ambien), eszopiclone (Lunesta), and zaleplon (Sonata) are examples of prescription drugs subject to abuse. No matter how it happens, people who have become addicted to prescription medications may suffer serious health issues, and our clinical staff recognizes that long-term users may be suffering from a long-term withdrawal syndrome that includes anxiety, irritability, insomnia, and depression.
Individuals who develop a tolerance to their medication begin to experience the results from brain changes that cause a person to have physical and/or psychological discomfort when separated from their medication. One client describes her use of Lunesta: “I began to look forward to taking my pills and I coveted them. I was afraid of losing them or someone stealing them. I became attached to them, counting them and of course experimenting with dosage on my own.”
Morningside Recovery has a comprehensive program to help those suffering from prescription drug addiction. We treat each client as a unique individual and our prescription drug treatment program is customized and adapted be as effective as possible in addressing all needs of a client. Often treatment will include medication and psychotherapy, usually cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Although a long-term medication solution is neither the foundation nor goal of treatment at Morningside, if indicated as psychiatrically necessary our psychiatric staff will evaluate and find the most effective and least intrusive option available. The introduction of new classes of drugs into psychopharmacology has resulted in medications that have fewer side effects than older antidepressants. Such medications, in conjunction with intensive therapy with the experienced psychologists and therapists at Morningside, can reduce the long-term withdrawal syndromes that lead to dropping out of treatment and/or relapse.
Of course, addiction won’t go away with just medication. At Morningside, clients learn practical skills like stress management and emotional regulation strategies. Therapists often use cognitive behavioral therapy in conjunction with group therapy to help clients recognize that addiction is often a compulsive disorder. One client shared, “The way I look at it, my brain is sending me error messages like a computer. I learned to recognize those messages for what they are and to deal with them differently than before.” Treatment at Morningside recognizes that addiction is the result of a number of factors that can include genetics, physical makeup, or the socio-economic issues. It’s not a character issue and it’s not a personal weakness.
We offer a recovery program that takes place in the vibrant community of Newport Beach. Clients are not isolated, but instead deal daily with the real-life situations they will eventually have to face on their own. This exposure is then integrated into therapy sessions about skill building, developing the life skills necessary for relapse prevention, anger management, and serene living. More than one client has shared his sense of relief from the constant battle to manage his addiction. Clients learn that they don’t need pills every time they feel stressed or anxious. They learn how to live in the moment and deal with their symptoms through a variety of tools. This freedom and sense of purpose is truly awesome.
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