Addiction is a deeply personal illness that affects people in very different ways. This has much to do with the many different factors that influence a person’s choices including family history, genetics and socio-environmental pressures. These days there is a darker side to addiction that is fast-becoming an epidemic in America: prescription drug abuse. Although it has always been known that addiction doesn’t discriminate, there is now a greater threat of people who desperately need help falling below the radar because they don’t fit the stereotypical image of an addict.

Prescription Drug Abuse: The Changing Face of Addiction

The reason the use and abuse of highly potent prescription painkillers has increased in recent years has much to do with the fact that people do not recognize the warning signs. Many people falsely believe that because they are prescribed meds by their physicians that they do not carry any risk of dependence or addiction. However, because of the nature of addiction and how it develops over time, there are now more people being treated for prescription drug abuse than ever before.

The reason prescription painkillers are so addictive has much to do with the way in which they work. Many prescription painkillers for example contain opioids which is essentially a synthetic version of the illegal drug heroin. The meds work in the same way as heroin by disrupting neurotransmitter activity to create pleasant sensations that effectively “distract” the mind from pain elsewhere in the body. The reason people become dependent on these types of drugs so quickly is mainly because they develop a tolerance to their effects.

When we regularly consume drugs or alcohol, our brains get used to receiving the stimulus and it isn’t long before it craves a higher dose in order to get the same effects. This means that people are forced to take more of their meds to get the pain relief they need and often this marks the start of addictive behavior that can easily spiral out of control. Tolerance is marked by emerging withdrawal symptoms when the person stops using drugs or alcohol which leads to them using again to ease them unless they reach out for treatment.

Reach Out for Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment in Laguna Niguel, CA

Once an individual has recognized the signs of dependence or addiction, they are then able to consider their next step towards getting better. Addiction doesn’t look the same in every person and so there’s no “one size fits all” approach to treating it. At Capo Canyon Recovery, we take considerable time to assess every patient entering our care so that the most appropriate methodologies are used to treat them. If you are seeking alcohol or drug addiction treatment in Laguna Niguel, CA, contact Capo Canyon Recovery today to find out more about your personalized route to recovery.