Other Prescription Drugs

The most commonly abused prescription drugs include:

• Steroids – Anabolic steroids are meant to treat certain medical conditions only. You can become addicted to them and have withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop including mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, and depression.
• Prescription stimulants - Drugs such as Adderall, Ritalin, Dexedrine, and Benzedrine treat medical conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Abusing them involves taking them in higher doses or crushing pills and snorting them.
• Prescription depressants – Barbiturates are often prescribed to help you sleep. Benzodiazepines like Valium and Xanax treat both anxiety and sleep problems and are highly addictive.
• Ketamine (or “K”) – This animal tranquilizer is a powerful anesthetic used during surgeries and medical procedures. It has been used as a “date rape drug” to sedate another person to the point where they can hardly move.

This online tool can help you determine if you are abusing prescription medications and whether it is harming your health and negatively effecting your life.

There are many stages in the recovery process. The first steps are accepting that you have an addiction and it is harming your life. When you are ready and willing to change it is time to plan your recovery.

Learning about different recovery choices can help you see a path ahead and get the support you need. There are many tools to help you each step of the way. These treatment approaches have been the most effective for prescription drug addiction.

• Individual, family or group counseling is the most used treatment for addiction to depressant or stimulant medication. It can help you deal with many of the issues that led to medication abuse and help you prevent future relapse.

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of short-term talk therapy, has also been successful. It focuses on helping you see how your thoughts, feelings and behaviors are linked - and how changing harmful and negative thinking can create a healthier approach to life. You learn how to build your coping skills to deal with ongoing stresses.

• Social Support such as peer group programs like Pills Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous are a valuable source of encouragement and support, as can be friends and family, pastoral counseling and places of worship.
• Holistic approaches can improve many issues in recovery. They help you sleep better and feel calmer and more at ease. For detailed information on each approach see our Holistic Support section.

Note: It is important not to stop taking these medications on your own. It can be dangerous and withdrawal symptoms can be severe. Speak with your doctor for medically supervised detox to taper the drug dosage over time and lessen withdrawal symptoms.

12-step programs

Twelve-step programs are an important part of the recovery process. They are based on a set of guiding principles and the ongoing support of people who share their experiences of getting drug-free and avoiding relapse. People recovering from many types of addiction can join a 12-step program.

NON 12-STEP GROUP PROGRAMS

These self-help support groups give you tools to change negative and harmful thoughts that underlie addiction. The focus is on finding strength and self-control within yourself. There are in-person meetings with peers, daily online meetings, chat rooms and message boards.

Faith-Based Programs

These programs approach recovery through various religious traditions including Christian, Jewish, Islamic and Buddhist.

A faith-based recovery program understands that addiction and substance use is not just a physical problem – it reflects the spiritual and emotional suffering of an individual. These recovery programs seek to restore each person’s well-being through guidance and spiritual support, and encourages them to transform their lives totally.

To learn more about the different religious-based programs see our PROGRAMS & SUPPORT section

APPs

Mobile apps give you another tool to support your recovery. They offer practical support that is affordable, private and always available.

Apps can track sober time, help you manage triggers and emotions, find and share meetings, contact your sponsor discretely, keep you motivated, connect you with a recovery community, and more.

Many good apps are available for both the iPhone/iPad and Google Android phones. Of note, it is estimated that 7 out of 10 free apps use ads. This can be distracting and because ads use data they can cost you money in the long run. Many apps offer a premium version as an in-app purchase which has extra useful features and usually no ads. You can try out the free version of the app and upgrade to premium if it is helping you.

BUILD A SOBER NETWORK

Connect with people socially who are also working on their sobriety - for support, sharing and encouragement. Staying connected rather than isolated is a vital part of recovery. Support helps you heal.

ONLINE MEETINGs AND CHAT ROOMS

A chat room lets you communicate in real time on the Internet. Everyone who is logged in sees what you are typing, but two people can still have a private chat on the side. People from any location can join in, making them an ideal format for groups of people.

Chat meetings are chat rooms with a chairperson who introduces topics for people to address. Chat meetings are scheduled in advance for a specific period of time.

NA and PA Online meetings usually use Zoom. The group sets them up, gets a meeting code and password and sends the information to all members of the group. Or the group sends the information to Central Office, who post the info online.

HOLISTIC APPROACHES

When you stop using prescription medications, you may have withdrawal symptoms and feel anxious, sad, confused, or irritable. Your sleep and eating may be disturbed for a while.

Holistic therapies can help you cope with early symptoms and throughout the recovery process. You can build better health, inner calm and emotional strength – so you can think more clearly and focus on what is best for you. You may also find it easier to connect with others, your deeper self or to something greater than yourself, however you define that.

For those in recovery, holistic approaches work best when they are part of professional treatment and they are often part of addiction recovery programs. Studies show that success rates improve strongly when holistic approaches are included in treatment.

• Yoga can help you heal emotionally and physically – improving anxiety, depression, sleep, and pain.
• Tai chi and massage therapy help you lower stress, relax deeply, feel calmer and reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
• Acupuncture can lessen withdrawal symptoms and help rebalance your mind and body.
• Relaxation techniques such as guided imagery, meditation, deep breathing, and hypnotherapy are simple tools that are easy to learn. You can use them whenever you need help staying calm, centered and focused on your goals.

Part of a holistic approach also includes being in nature. Finding a safe, quiet and natural place can refresh the soul and provide the space to explore whatever form of spirituality moves you.

There are many other holistic therapies. You can learn more about them and their role in recovery in our Holistic Support section.