Many people do not even realize it is possible to abuse these drugs, never mind the fact that detox and rehab may be needed to stop. This problem is much more common than people think.
Over the counter medications have a reputation of being safe because almost anyone can purchase them. Some states have laws in place that restrict minors from buying them. But these laws are often loosely followed, which means these drugs can still be obtained illegally.
Over the counter medications can be highly addictive when they are abused. People need to be made aware of the dangers of misusing them and the risk of getting addicted to them. If a person does get addicted, they are not resigned to a life of substance abuse. Addiction treatment is available in Idaho to help them stop using.
Over the counter, or OTC, drugs are those that can be purchased at any store or online without a prescription. People tend to think of them as harmless, but when taken excessively, they can do a lot of damage. They can also cause the individual to become addicted to them.
There are several types of addictive over the counter medications on the market today. These include:
Young people are much more likely to try the drugs on the list above because there are less barriers to obtaining them. But that does not mean adults do not use them as well. When they are abused in any way, they can be extremely dangerous.
There are a variety of over the counter medications that have been approved for several different purposes. These medications are very useful in treating everything from the common cold and headaches to helping you fall asleep and assisting with weight loss. For the most part, when you take over the counter medications, you’re taking them for their intended purposes, and you know that you’re only going to be taking them for a short period of time. However, that’s not always the way it goes for some people.
It’s very easy for the regular use of over the counter medications to move forward into over the counter medication abuse, and when that occurs, it’s often the beginning a very serious problem.
It’s quite possible that we have such a big problem with over the counter medication abuse in the United States because these drugs are obtained so easily. They’re all relatively inexpensive, and most states don’t have any age restrictions on who can purchase them.
Over the counter medication abuse occurs when you start taking one of these drugs in a higher than normal dosage, or when you take it for a purpose that it’s not intended for on the packaging. Sometimes, people will abuse over the counter medications by combining them with illegal drugs or with prescription drugs as a way to experience a more intense high.
There is definitely a fine line that exists between over the counter medication abuse and addiction. The problem is that these addiction symptoms are often not realized until it’s too late.
It is not uncommon for states to experience drug abuse trends. One of the scarier ones involves young people who are seeking to get high off DXM cough medicine. This is a drug that is highly accessible, and when it is taken in large doses, it can produce a euphoric high.
Coricidin is an over the counter drug that contains DXM. Young people often refer to it as “red caps,” “triple c” or “skittles.” It is sold as a liquid or as pills, which is what teenagers typically prefer. Young people in Idaho have been known to steal this drug from stores. They bring it to school and sell it to their friends.
DXM is a very effective cough suppressant. When it is taken appropriately, it works well. This fact alone means that a lot of young people discount how dangerous it can be; even at higher doses than normal.
A lot of stores in Idaho have moved Coricidin and other, similar medications behind the counter to deter thieves. But it is still available to people who ask for it. The most important step to take in this situation is to make people aware that it is happening. Parents need to know the signs of addiction and young people need to know the real risks.
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Verify InsuranceIn most cases, the over the counter medication addiction symptoms that you’re going to experience depend entirely upon the type of medications you’re taking. While the symptoms might vary, they often include some of the following:
Once these over the counter medication symptoms start to surface, you may become surprised because you assumed the medications you were taking were non-addictive. However, if you notice these, or any other symptoms, it’s important to consider whether or not over the counter addiction treatment might be right for you.
Northpoint Recovery is a state of the art, comfortable and modern inpatient detox and drug rehab facility designed to help our clients get the help they need to overcome addiction.
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Sometimes it’s easier to recognize an over the counter medication addiction by looking for certain behaviors rather than symptoms. Because everyone responds to these drugs differently, if you’re concerned that you or a loved one might be addicted to them, you can look for some of the following:
This type of addiction should be treated very quickly, and it’s not uncommon for people to form such a strong tolerance to these drugs that they move on to other, illegal drugs or prescription medications to get the results they’re looking for. If you’ve noticed any of the above symptoms or behaviors of over the counter medication addiction, please get help right away.
Now that you really do suspect that you’ve become addicted to over the counter medications, you need to know what to do to get help. Stopping your medications abruptly can lead to some serious over the counter medication withdrawal symptoms, and these can be quite unpleasant, depending on what drug you’ve been taking. In order to minimize them, drug detox is often recommended. This will help to purge your body of the drugs you’ve been using so that you get through the worst of the withdrawal phase quickly.
It’s also recommended for anyone who has been abusing over the counter medications to go through drug rehab. Over the counter medication addiction treatment will address the issues behind your addiction so that you’re able to recover properly.
Detoxing off drugs is such a vital part of the recovery process. It may or may not be necessary for someone who is addicted to over the counter drugs. It really comes down to the patient’s personal assessment.
Some types of OTC medications can cause severe withdrawal symptoms. Individuals who are using them are likely to need to go through detox. But others may not need this form of treatment. They will enter into rehab right away.
Drug detox is about ridding the body of the toxins that led to the addiction. It should always be done on an inpatient basis.
Drug rehab programs offer people the opportunity to learn more about themselves, their addictions and what caused them. Many are caused by co-occurring disorders, and the drug use is nothing more than a method of self-medicating.
During drug rehab, any co-occurring disorder (such as anxiety or depression) can be identified and treated properly. The patients undergo several types of therapy, including individual and group sessions.
At Northpoint Recovery, we offer one of the best inpatient drug detox and rehab programs in Idaho. We work with patients from all over the country who desperately need to be free of substances. Many of the people we work with are addicted to over the counter drugs, so we have a lot of experience in that area.
Addiction recovery is a very personal experience for each patient. That is why we carefully tailor our treatment plans to meet each person’s individual needs. Our patients can access both detox and rehab through our facility, which means there are no interruptions in their treatment.
We are located in Boise, Idaho and our treatment program runs for 28 days.
At Northpoint Recovery, we want people to know that we understand how hard it is to ask for help with recovery. Taking that first step can be a challenge, but once they do, they can find themselves surrounded by people who want nothing more than to help.
People typically do not realize how dangerous over the counter drugs are. Once they find out, it is often too late. With our support, people can get their lives back.
Our admissions coordinators are here to help you get started with treatment the right way. They'll verify your health insurance, help set up travel arrangements, and make sure your transition into treatment is smooth and hassle-free.
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