Pain management can be a confusing issue for of the 50 million Americans who deal with pain management in one form or another on a continuous basis, many people suffer with the effects of dependency on prescription drugs. Pain management can be effectively dealt with by taking prescriptions as directed by a single doctor who is well informed. Unfortunately, millions of Americans who began treatment for have found themselves in the grips of dependency and addiction. Pain management can become drug abuse very easily and according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse emergency rooms visits due to abuse and overdose of Vicodin have increased 37% since 1996. In fact, some studies show that nearly half of all emergency room visits are connected to prescription drug abuse and a large percentage are associated with prescriptions used in pain management like opioids.

How does pain management spin out of control?
Drugs used in pain management are primarily opioids. Opioids are a general category of natural and man-made drugs that are similar to morphine. These include codeine, Darvon, Vicodin, Dilaudid, Demerol, Lomotil, OxyContin and others. Opioids suppress pain by blocking pain transmitters in the brain. This blockage does the trick for most pain but for some individuals, tolerance can build and an extra pill or two is taken. Tolerance is an adaptation of the body to compensate for the drug. Once it has adapted pain can still get past the blockage and more of the drug must be taken to block pain that was once blocked by a smaller dose. Opioids also affect the brain's pleasure centers causing a euphoric rush that some users find highly desirable. At large doses however, drowsiness and limited breathing occurs and overdoses can cause breathing to stop altogether resulting in death. Needless to say that few people start out taking 20 pills a day but the resulting dependency and addiction to pain management medication cause many people to live with all consuming habits.

What is dependency and addiction?
Dependency describes the bodies adaptation and tolerance for the drug. It is a condition in which there is a physical need to maintain a certain dose of the drug or else the body will exhibit withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms from pain management drugs include flu-like symptoms such as muscle and bone pain, irritability, diarrhea, nausea, unintentional leg movements and cold flashes.

Many people who try to stop on there own find it extremely difficult to get past the withdrawal symptoms and continue to abuse pain management medication. This contributes to addiction, which goes beyond just physical dependence and includes psychological dependence. Addiction is a disease of the mind and body of the individual who feels the need to take prescription drugs to resolve emotional pain as well as physical pain. Addiction is a progressive disease that stops only through intervention and persistent action. This is the purpose of Scripts and other programs, to provide the foundation of separation from the medication and offer tools for continued abstinence.

How does Scripts differ from other treatment programs?
Scripts has recently opened a facility strictly dedicated to serving the needs of individuals suffering from dependency on prescription pills. A facility dedicated to prescription abuse is virtually nonexistent in this country and Scripts has taken its commitment to our clients even further. The new facility is an ocean front beach house complete with balconies that extend over the water and luxuriously decorated rooms with views to match.

Scripts understands that in addition to the pain of dealing with pain management prescription dependence, it is an inconvenient necessity to take off time to treat the disease. Our mission is to make this process as comfortable and pleasant as possible. We do this in part by serving you in the lifestyle you've come to expect. Further, our professional staff of medical doctors and therapeutic counselors have many years experience dealing with prescription dependencies and will tailor a recovery plan according to your personal needs.

If you or someone you know and love has a problem with dependence on pain management prescriptions, please do not hesitate in calling us today.