What Is RX Rehab Like?

Not everyone needs the full continuum of care which is comprised of detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient treatment. Many prescription drugs are known to be highly addictive, so you probably will need to get some help to get clean and stay that way.

Depending on the drug and if you have used a lot of prescription drugs (and for a long time), you may need the help of all three levels of treatment to ensure that your foundation in sobriety is solid. You might also choose to go to sober living after rehab for extra support.

In addition, a supervised detox is often necessary for some prescription meds because stopping them suddenly can lead to life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. Others may cause such strong cravings that you’re likely to relapse unless you have the benefit of clinical staff 24/7. 

You may need to stay at inpatient rehab, especially if you need medical detox, to be successful in sobriety. Attending a residential facility gives you more intensive treatment in a safe, trigger-free setting. Inpatient rehab is designed to help you focus on the work you need to do to stay sober by keeping you away from the people, places, and things that you associate with RX drugs.

You’ll be in an environment of others just like you who are trying to get clean and sober when you’re in a residential facility. A sober community is critical not just for stopping prescription med abuse, but for preventing relapse prevention too. 

Both mornings and afternoons are designated for therapy, generally in both group and individual settings. Meals are eaten together at certain times every day. After dinner, there’s time and space for games, hobbies, and other fun activities. Since exercise is important for emotional and physical health, many rehabs offer fitness features.

Some former addicts can get and stay sober with just the help of outpatient rehab and don’t need to go to inpatient. Outpatient treatment is the next level of care, where you go home or to sober living each night. You’ll still attend therapy and create your aftercare plan. 

Partial hospitalization programs, which are the most intensive kind of outpatient care, are similar to inpatient treatment at 25-30 hours a week. With plenty of structure during the day most of the day each weekday, these programs help you be successful on your path to recovery.

The next level down for outpatient rehab is about nine to ten hours each week, usually on the weekends or after work or school. You’ll focus on your transition out of treatment, though you’ll still be in therapy and classes.

What To Expect During RX Rehab

You’ll be assessed by the clinical staff when you arrive at rehab. They normally ask about your drug use history and any mental health conditions in your family in addition to running some tests. Mental health conditions like depression, ADHD, and bipolar disorder very often accompany a substance use disorder. It’s also very common for someone with an addiction to have a history of it in their family. 

Anyone with a mental health issue has to get sober first because you can’t treat a mental condition while you’re still using prescription meds. Even if you don’t think you currently have a dual diagnosis, you could discover a co-occurring mental health disorder in rehab. 

While you’re in RX rehab, you’ll find out why you started using prescription meds in the first place. There are many reasons, including experiencing trauma as a child or adult (or both) or trying to medicate depression or a similar mental health condition. Therapy will help you understand the root causes and then help you work through them with better-coping mechanisms.

Both mental health and prescription drug use disorders can be successfully treated with evidence-based therapies including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). CBT helps you notice when you’re experiencing negative thoughts and reframe them with ones that help you and your recovery. Similarly, DBT focuses more on your feelings and reforming those in a constructive way in addition to using mindfulness techniques.

Group therapy sessions help you improve your problem-solving and communication skills. You’ll also feel less alone since others in the group can relate to your experiences. 

You may have been enabled in your RX drug use by members of your family, which is very common. That’s why many treatment centers also provide family therapy. Your family members will understand how they contributed to your disease, and what they can do to support your recovery from prescription meds.

You’ll likely attend some classes on things like stress relaxation techniques and anger management in addition to therapy sessions. They’ll provide you with the life skills you need to handle future situations without having to rely on prescription drugs. 

How Long Does RX Rehab Ashburn VA?

Several factors help determine the length of your treatment. One major factor is your personal history of taking prescription drugs. As a general rule, the longer you’ve been using them, the longer you’ll need to stay in rehab. That helps ensure that the healthy habits you learn in treatment stay with you as you transition out. A longer stay will also benefit you if you have a co-occurring mental disorder, particularly if you’ve been newly diagnosed. 

However long your program turns out to be, along the way you’ll be planning your aftercare to help prevent relapse afterward. For some former RX drug users, a month-long rehab is all you need. If you’re resistant to the idea of going to rehab, or concerned about what will happen to your loved ones during a longer stay, a month can be a good starting point. A 30-day program lets you detox your mind and body and clear your head, in addition to practicing healthy habits.

On the other hand, two months gives you extra time to strengthen your coping skills, work on your underlying problems, and build up new coping skills. That said, a three-month program could be best. These treatments have a higher success rate than shorter stays do. Longer treatment periods are more likely to help you be more successful with relapse prevention.

Top Abused Prescription Drugs

Mostly, medications prescribed for pain relief, sleep relief, and stimulants are particularly likely to be abused since they tend to be notoriously addictive. Here are some of the RX drugs most likely to be abused.

• Opioids

Typically used to treat pain, most of these meds should only be taken for a short time to lessen the risk of developing a substance use disorder. However, they’re relatively easy to get, which increases their popularity. While they’re derived from the poppy plant, synthetically made opioids are particularly potent.

• Codeine
• Fentanyl
• Hydrocodone (Valium or Lortab brand names)
• Methadone
• Morphine
• Oxycodone (Oxycontin or Percodan/Percocet)
• Oxymorphone (Dilaudid)
• Propoxyphene (Darvon or Demerol)
• Stimulants

These meds are typically used to treat ADD and ADHD and similar disorders. Like opioids, they’re easy to get.

• Amphetamines (Dexedrine and Adderall)
• Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
• Depressants

Usually, prescriptions for central nervous system depressants are for sedation or to reduce anxiety. They may also be prescribed to help you sleep. 

• Barbiturates, used as sedatives (Nembutal or Seconal)
• Benzodiazepines or benzos, prescribed for anxiety in drugs (Ativan, Valium, Xanax, or Klonopin)
• Sleep meds (Ambien, Sonata, or Lunesta)
• Other compounds
  • Dextromethorphan (DXM), found in cough medicine

Methadone Detox in Ashburn

Although many people may not realize it, methadone itself is an opioid. It’s often prescribed for those addicted to heroin or morphine to help them stop taking the drug, as well as for pain. But just like many other opiates, when taken for too long it’s easy to become addicted. 

It’s also important, as it is for other opioid RX drugs, to taper off the drug gradually rather than trying to stop it all at once. Withdrawal symptoms like agitation, runny nose, sweating, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhea can take two to four days to develop after your last dose. They can last for up to 10 days, which is why a supervised detox is likely the right solution if you have a methadone use disorder.

Why Choose The Detox Center of LA for RX Rehab

At our facilities, you’ll receive a treatment plan that’s been customized specifically for you. We’ll also help you take the detox and rehab process slowly, step by step so that you’re not overwhelmed by it and feel comfortable and safe. 

Our staff is dedicated to your recovery, and we’ll focus on the life skills you need to be successful even after you leave treatment. Don’t wait any longer for the life that you both want and deserve. Contact us today to get started.