Category: Treatment

American’s are prescribed a lot of drugs and therefore, to put it bluntly, we take a lot of drugs.

The numbers are astounding.

Back in 2015, findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study showed that 45.8% of the U.S. population used a prescription drug in the prior 30 days. As expected, that number rose with age with 85% of those over 60 using a prescription.

Think about that for a second, that’s very nearly 1 in 2 of us.

By and large, most folks don’t have an issue and the medications they’re prescribed do the trick.

However, that’s simply not the case with everyone and the more people who fill prescriptions, the more likely it is that instances of abuse and addiction will creep in.

What Is a Pill Addiction? 

The beauty of modern science is that it’s slowly but surely led to the betterment of so many people’s lives by creating solutions to the many things that ail us throughout our lives. Most often that now comes in the form of easy to swallow pills.

Pretty remarkable.

From opioid analgesics for pain to amphetamines for ADHD to sedatives for help sleeping there, are over 45 therapeutic categories of drugs according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

While addiction isn’t necessarily a risk for those taking antifungals or blood glucose regulators, it is very much a real risk for someone prescribed opioids for severe pain or a benzodiazepine like Xanax for generalized anxiety disorder.

Certain medications and pills just aren’t meant to be taken long term as the risk for adverse effects as well as misuse, dependency and addiction can appear.

An addiction to drugs, be it in pill form or otherwise, is defined by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) as a “chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences. It is considered a brain disorder, because it involves functional changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control. Those changes may last a long time after a person has stopped taking drugs”.

For drugs like opioids, even taking them strictly as directed can lead to an addiction due to their drastic effects on the brain.

Just like an addiction to anything else, there will be signs of a pill addiction you can keep an eye out for. While some will be drug-specific, many symptoms run the gamut of addiction:

• Developing a tolerance to the pills and needing a higher dosage than the prescription calls for
• Going to multiple doctors for prescriptions
• “Losing” prescriptions or meds in order for a doctor to write another prescription
• Taking pills “just in case”
• Continuing to use even after the initial condition or reason for the prescription has been resolved
• Increasingly secretive behavior
• Withdrawing from friends, family and activities
• Changes in mood
• Depending on the drug, appearing to be high and overly energetic or heavily sedated
• Taking pills even after it’s clear it’s causing problems in your life
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not taking pills

If you’re experiencing any of the above, you might be wondering “how do I find a rehab for pill addiction near me?”.

How Inneractions Can Help With a Pill Addiction

It’s tougher to kick an addiction than to fall into one.

Luckily, just as science has given us plenty of answers in the form of medication, it’s also provided evidence-based treatment for when we find ourselves struggling to let go of those pills. At Inneractions, our team of 25+ experts have decades of combined experience in guiding people back to sobriety through education, compassion and proven techniques. Reach out to us today if you or a loved one is grappling with a pill addiction and let’s start down the road of recovery together.

Inpatient or outpatient? Does the rehab specialize in my addiction? Stay close to home or do treatment elsewhere? If elsewhere, then where?!

With so many variables and questions, in addition to those, involved in finding the best rehab for you or a loved one, it can be tough to sift through everything and find answers. It’s understandable, nowadays there are just a ton of great resources and treatment centers out there doing amazing work in helping people overcome addiction. Making sure you find the right one is the challenge.

Outpatient rehab in Woodland Hills might just be the answer you’re looking for.

How Outpatient Rehab Is Different From Inpatient Rehab

Before jumping into the benefits of Woodland Hills in particular, and there’s more to it than the 280+ sunny days, let’s talk about the difference between outpatient and inpatient rehab.

Inpatient care, to put it plainly, is when a person lives at the rehab facility.

It’s the most intensive type of treatment program where you’ll be under 24-hour care with medical, psychiatric and mental support constantly available. As far as treatment options go, inpatient is the most disruptive to your daily life. You’ll have to leave your job, friends, family, etc., and remove yourself from anything and everything that could be a distraction and instead you’ll be focusing all your attention and 100% of your efforts towards mental and physical rehabilitation from substance abuse. 

Inpatient care is generally reserved for those with more severe and long-term addictions and is necessarily immersive. It can last from 28 days to a multi-month program with the length dependent on the nature of the addiction and the assessment of a treatment/addiction specialist.

On the flip side, you have outpatient care which has all the same treatment modalities that inpatient would, like; individual and group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and complementary/alternative therapy, etc. but you don’t live at the facility.

You’re able to carry on with your daily life; work, school, family errands and whatever else life entails while going to a rehab center for scheduled sessions. In other words, it’s far less intrusive.

It’s mainly meant for those with a milder addiction, who don’t need constant supervision and are at less risk for relapse.

As far as cost is concerned, outpatient treatment is a much more affordable option seeing as how you aren’t paying for weeks or months of living in a dedicated treatment center.

That said, if your addiction is severe, don’t try to save money by pushing for an outpatient option. Your life is worth more and what you save up front, you might end up paying later if you relapse.

Choose the right solution, not the cheapest one.

Who Would Benefit From Going to an Outpatient Rehab Woodland Hills

Woodland Hills, California in the San Fernando Valley and at the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains is a tranquil respite from the hustle and bustle. Aside from the sun shining for the majority of the year, there are other reasons to consider rehab here.

Whether you live in Southern California or not, leaving your state or area for treatment brings a lot of positives.

For starters, you’re removing yourself from the distractions, people, influences and triggers that can easily cause you to slip back into using.

Also, there is built-in confidence with going somewhere where no one knows your name, the opposite of Cheers. Comfort in the privacy of not accidentally bumping into someone you know and being able to open up in ways you might not have been able to before.

Let Inneractions Help You Find Recovery

At Inneractions in Woodland Hills, we offer evidence-based intensive outpatient treatment. With over 30 years of experience helping people overcome addiction, we offer robust treatment with a flexible approach to scheduling and availability that works for you.

Get in touch with us and let us tell you more about gorgeous Woodland Hills and how we can help you get on the road to recovery.