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Tommy Recovery Coaching

Examples of Addictions to Prescription Medications

Following the death of Matthew Perry in October 2023, the Los Angeles Police Department requested the assistance of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration to investigate two physicians accused of providing the famous Hollywood actor with ketamine. One of the doctors who pleaded guilty to supplying Perry with the ketamine that resulted in his fatal overdose is a San Diego resident, and the investigation revealed an organization dedicated to distributing various prescription drugs. Before his death, Perry had received ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety. This is one example of prescription drug situations that result in abuse or dependency. With this in mind, let’s review a few others.

The American Synthetic Opioid Crisis

When researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) compile overdose death statistics, they list street fentanyl in the same synthetic opioids categories as OxyContin, Percocet, Vicodin, and other potent painkillers with a high potential for abuse. The American opioid crisis didn’t begin with street fentanyl smuggled from China and Mexico. It started in the mid-2000s with the Florida pill mills, which followed a modus operandi similar to the clinics that prescribed ketamine to Matthew Perry. The CDC has been tracking opioid overdose deaths since the late 1990s, and fentanyl didn’t top the list of most dangerous substances until 2016.

Stimulant Abuse on the Rise

According to CDC statistics, the number of overdose deaths involving stimulants has increased steadily since 2014, and prescription medications such as Adderall, Concerta, Dexedrine, and Ritalin are detected in forensic examinations more than ever. Since 2016, the percentage of patients with one or more stimulant prescriptions has increased annually by 0.6 percent on average. The CDC also estimates that 4.9 million patients abuse stimulants within the 12 months following their first prescription. More women are abusing prescription stimulants than ever. Pop singers such as Britney Spears and Lily Allen have openly discussed their Adderall addictions, which they had a difficult time recovering from.

Benzodiazepines Coming Back

The “mother’s little helper” era of recreational Valium use peaked from the 1950s to the mid-1980s in the U.S., but CDC statistics indicate a new substance abuse trend has been emerging since the COVID-19 pandemic. From early 2019 to late 2020, benzodiazepine deaths increased by 42.9 percent, and more than half of the fatal overdoses featured prescriptions for Klonopin and Xanax. One of the problems with benzodiazepines is that they’re often promoted in the “after-party” scene as pharmaceutical aids to help revelers come down from liquor and other drugs.

Polysubstance Use Disorder

Liquor, cocaine, and prescription medications are the drugs most often mentioned in polysubstance use disorder (PUD), which can be difficult to recover from because of their complex neurochemical interactions. This complexity frequently requires more comprehensive treatment. Demi Lovato and Robert Downey Jr. are two celebrities who have been publicly vocal about their struggles with PUD. Both have credited their sober lifestyle coaches, such as those who specialize in Carlsbad addiction recovery, with helping them navigate some of the stages of their recovery journeys, and both have stated prescription drugs were their most intense demons. 

If someone you know is facing the challenge of addiction, consider reaching out for professional support from an interventionist. Carlsbad addicts who receive this guidance often find it’s a crucial element in beginning a successful and sustained recovery journey. Carlsbad residents can trust the expertise and experience of the compassionate team at Sober Lifestyle Coaching. We know precisely what it takes to get sober, stay sober, and live the healthy lifestyle you deserve. We specialize in working with clients with active addictions as well as clients already in recovery. Our sober coaches provide encouragement, accountability, insight, and understanding through our own recovery experiences. To learn more about how we can help you or someone you love, call us today.

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