Overcoming Prescription Drug Addiction: A Guide to Coping and Understanding

(Paperback, Third Edition, Third edition)

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Prescription drug addiction is now one of the nations most serious drug problems. More Americans are abusing controlled prescription drugs more than cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, and heroin combined. With the exception of marijuana, prescription painkillers are the most widely abused drug in the U.S.

Many who are addicted to prescription drugs are unwitting addictsthey have no history of drug abuse, but become addicted after taking a drug for legitimate reasons. Rod Colvin understands this problem. His 35-year old brother died as a result of his long-term addiction to painkillers and tranquilizers.

Drawing from his personal experience and his background as a counselor, Colvin offers help to those suffering from addiction as well as their families. In this new, third edition, Colvin discusses dynamics of addiction and the newest treatment options; he also offers compelling personal stories from addicts who describe their journeys into recovery. These anecdotes are accompanied by advice from addiction medicine specialists.

The Book Answers These Questions:

How does addiction rewire the brain

What are the symptoms of addiction

Whos at risk for addiction

Why are more teens abusing prescription drugs

When does proper medical use of a drug turn into addiction

What happens if the drugs are stopped abruptly

What are the symptoms of withdrawal

What is the difference between addiction and physical dependence

What are the top 20 most-abused prescription drugs

How Can You Leave Prescription Drugs Behind

Read stories of recovery from individuals who are in recovery

Learn how they become addicted

Find out how they made it into recovery

What were the turning points in their lives that made them seek recovery

What is their advice to others who are struggling

Treatment for Addiction

What are the treatment options

What is a medical detox

What is in-patient treatment

What is out-patient treatment

What is a partial-day treatment plan

What is rapid detox for opiate addiction

Does insurance pay for treatment

What is relapse prevention education

How Can Family Members Ease

Their

Pain

Addiction affects everyone in the family. No one escapes the pain and the chaos.

What can family members do to help the addict and themselves

What does it mean to enable an addict

Find out if youre enabling a loved one whos addicted

What is a family intervention

How can you set up an intervention to get your loved one into treatment

Understand that addiction is a progressive disease

Advice from Addiction Medicine Specialists

Read the advice of addiction medicine specialists. Their topics:

Addiction is an illness

How to build on hope

Be cautious with benzodiazepines

Stages of chemical dependency

Addiction to pills means greater denial

Addicts are not having fun

Warning signs of addiction

How to avoid isolating, a trigger for relapse

Getting Pills to Feed an Addiction

Did you ever wonder how an addict can obtain so many prescriptions This chapter tells you. It discusses:

Doctor shopping

Why doctors often misprescribe

Why forged prescriptions get filled

Ordering drugs from the Internet

Do You Have Chronic Pain

Twenty percent of Americans have chronic pain. How do you avoid addiction if you need pain pills for chronic pain This chapter answers questions such as:

Why is most pain under-treated

Does pain treatment lead to addiction

What percentage of people become addicted

Why are so many doctors under-trained in pain management

What are the barriers to effective pain management

Elders and Drug Abuse and Addiction

Are you a senior citizen Or, are you caring for one Seniors have twice the risk of becoming addicted to medications. This chapter answers such questions as:

How do you recognize addiction in seniors

What should you do if a senior you love is addicted

What are the 23 drugs you should avoid if youre over 65

Which pills are most dangerous to seniors

How can your pharmacist help you with a medicine review

Rod Colvin, M.S., has worked to increase public awareness about prescription drug abuse for the last fifteen years. He has appeared on various national, regional, and local broadcasts. From 2003 to 2005, he served on an advisory panel for the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Columbia University, which did a landmark study on prescription drug abuse. He also maintains the popular Web site: www.prescriptiondrugaddiction.com. Colvin is also the author of two other nonfiction books.

Reviews

"This well-documented book presents the subject in an authoritative manner. Recommended as an addition to consumer health collections." -- Consumer Connection
"This book is a unique and valuable resource. It is concise and easy to read, yet it's comprehensive, thoroughly researched and contains outstanding authoritative references." -- Alan S Hollister, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine and pharmacology, University of Colorado, on the first edition
"This book fills a long-standing voidthat of the need for education about the rampant abuse of prescription medication." -- Jean Sheffield, pharmacist and member, Texas Pharmacy Association, on the first edition
"As a physician working with the problems of addiction, I strongly recommend this book. Prescription drug abuse has not received the attention it deserves. This books sheds light on an important and compelling issue." -- David Smith, MD, president, Society of Addiction Medicine, on the first edition

Author Bio

Rod Colvin, MS is author of three nonfiction books including Overcoming Prescription Drug Addiction. He resides in Omaha, Nebraska.