Prescription Drug Abuse Affects this Young Woman as Well as Older PeoplePrescription drug abuse has taken the country by storm. You cannot watch the evening news or even enjoy episodic programming without hearing something about the nation’s drug epidemic. The epidemic includes prescription painkiller abuse, often leading to heroin addiction. But contrary to popular belief, there is not one particular age group affected by this type of addiction.

What Makes Prescription Drug Abuse Different From “Street Drug” Abuse?

There are both similarities and differences between prescription drug abuse and abuse of illicit drugs. But the problem with prescription drug abuse is that this form of addiction often starts with a doctor’s prescription. That doctor’s signature provides prescription medications that are highly addictive to patients, often when there could be alternative, non-drug methods for treatment. Once the prescription is written, it is up to each individual patient to use the medication properly.

Prescription drug abuse today most often refers to painkillers, a growing problem of prescribed medication addiction. These prescription drugs have a lure that few other drugs possess, one that pulls people of all ages into abusing their own prescription, taking pills from others in their family, or buying them on the street. Once addicted, these patients are stuck in a trap of supply and demand, often going to great lengths to secure more of their pills. The majority of those snared by prescription painkillers end up committing some form of crime, such as doctor shopping, falsifying prescriptions, taking medication from others or buying them from an illicit dealer.

In essence, the primary difference between illicit drug abuse and prescription drug abuse lies only in who provides the first doses. For a street drug, a friend or dealer usually hands over a drug for an individual to use. For prescription medication, a doctor is often the only person standing between a patient and drug addiction. Ultimately, all people with addiction, whether to prescription or illicit drugs, end up in the same position.

Statistics of Prescription Drug Abuse Don’t Lie

There are about 4.7 million people addicted to prescription drugs today, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence recently reported, “People ages 50 to 59 accounted for almost 36 percent of opioid treatment patients in 2012.” This is remarkable, as adults in this age group have never before been seen to experience such rampant addiction. It shocks most people, as the general belief tends to be that drug addiction is a problem of youth. Clearly this is no longer the case.

Even more shocking is the information from this same source, reporting that “Patients ages 60 to 69 rose from 1.5 percent to 12 percent [of those seeking addiction treatment] between 1996 and 2012.” Former stereotypes of who seeks addiction treatment no longer apply.

Beaches Recovery Provides Treatment for Patients of All Ages

Whether a patient is 22 or 72, Beaches Recovery in Jacksonville FL provides programs to help them recover from addiction. Individualized treatment plans are designed to meet individual patient needs. Such individuality may be age, or it may be that the patient has spiritual needs, prefers a 12-step foundation, or chooses a non-12 step path to sobriety.

A cookie-cutter approach to addiction treatment is no longer applicable to modern addiction dilemmas. Individuals undergoing drug rehab at Beaches Recovery have a wide variety of programs to choose from, best suited for their recovery needs and according to medical necessity, such as:

If you or someone you love are stuck within a cycle of addiction to drugs or alcohol, gaining accredited and individualized treatment can free you from this detrimental cycle. Call Beaches Recovery now at 8666050532 for more information about how we can help you get free.