With 7 million people using prescription drugs non-medically in the country the prescription problem has to be looked at in regards to where all these drugs are coming from. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that 70% of prescription drug users get their drugs from family members or friends.
Well-meaning family members and caring friends usually mean no harm to the person when they give them a prescription but the consequences of this can be deadly. Often what happens is that someone has a valid prescription for a painkiller, sleeping pill or anti-anxiety medication and hears a loved one complaining of a problem. The person will offer up the drug thinking it is a solution for them. If this happens a few times the individual may then go and try and get a prescription or take more of the drug from their loved one.
The result is that a substance abuse problem can occur that is often missed by the family member or loved one that handed out the medications in the first place.
Prescriptions should never be shared or given out and once one finishes their dosage they should be properly disposed of so that they cannot be taken and abused in any way.
There is also the matter of family members who help an already addicted person to keep using drugs. This is one of the primary ways that prescription drug abused abetted by family and friends.
Things Family & Friends Do To Contribute To Prescription Abuse
Enabling is the number ones things that family members, friends and other loved ones do that contribute to prescription abuse. This is when the individual helps the drug user in some way, either directly or indirectly so that they can continue their drug use. Examples of enabling are as follows:
• Providing the drug user a job so he or she does not have to go to treatment and can make money which will be spent on more drugs.
• Paying bills for the drug users, paying off credit cards or other debts or helping him or her out financially in some way.
• Giving someone addicted a place to stay when you are aware of the drug problem and especially if the person has refused to go to treatment.
• Giving the addicted person money.
• Taking a drug user to pick up drugs.
• Making excuses for the substance abuser in regards to the addiction or the problems that have occurred because of it.
Narconon Drug Rehabilitation Advises Families On Prescription Addiction
Often when a loved one falls victim to prescription abuse it is difficult for family members and loved ones to know what to do. The addiction problem can be so severe that it can overwhelm and consume loved ones to the point where they have no idea where to start to help the addicted person.
Narconon drug rehabilitation advises families to educate themselves on substance abuse, first and foremost. Once this is complete they must find a program for the addicted person that is long term and effective. An effective program will typically take longer than 30 days to be address the multiple factors driving the individual to addiction. Often several months is needed for this.
Some addicted persons will request NA or a short term program. The type of program and the length are extremely important and the person must stay in treatment for an appropriate amount of time to get a positive result.
For more information on Narconon drug rehabilitation contact us today.