Drug dependency is a commonly misunderstood reality in today’s culture. Mention drug dependency, and most people are quick to imagine the homeless addict, thieving to support a heroin or crack habit. However, today’s reality proves that pigeonholed cliché isn’t always the case. In fact, with the advent of doctor prescribed medications and over the counter painkillers such as Nurofen Plus and Tramadol, drug dependency is a much more widespread phenomenon – and it affects a wide cross-section of our population.

So, what is drug dependency, after all?

Simply put, drug dependence means that an individual has reached a point where, in order to function normally, he or she needs a specific drug. Using said drug becomes a compulsive behavior, despite potential negative side effects or consequences. The important thing to note here is that an individual can have a physical dependence on a particular substance without having an addiction, per se. Someone battling high cholesterol may depend on his or her medication without being addicted to it. Furthermore, other drugs may cause addiction without leading to physical dependence, such as cocaine.

Analgesics (opiates, codeine compounds, over the counters) are the most commonly misunderstood types of drugs when thinking about drug dependence. Over the years, medication that used to be reserved for terminally ill patients has found its way onto doctors’ prescription pads for a whole variety of ailments that wouldn’t have ever included the use of, say, Oxycontin. These types of drugs are powerful enough to cause drug dependency for people who may not ever have had a history of drug abuse. That being said, without careful supervision, anyone who has an opiate or codeine based drug in his or her treatment plan should be mindful of this and regularly consult their doctor.

If you or someone you know has developed dependence on either a prescription or over the counter drug, there is hope.

Treatment is available for those with drug dependence who may not fit the outdated cliché of ‘addict’. The first phase of the treatment process is a detox from the drug. The goal of detoxification is to heal the body physiologically. This is done by stabilization, first, then an actual detoxification of the body from the drug. There are several ways to detox, and I strongly recommend seeking professional help – wherever you get it – before trying to detox on your own. Just as different bodies react to drugs differently, the same goes for detoxing. In some cases, quitting ‘cold turkey’ can do more harm than good. If you’re looking for help finding a detox, or want to know what your detox options are, please contact me.

It’s important to remember, however, that detoxification is not the end of treating drug dependence. Regardless of drug used, dependence includes long-term physical and psychological side effects. Counseling – whether it is individual or in a group – is of the utmost importance when recovering from any type of drug dependence. Simply detoxing from the drug may get it out of your system – the abuse may stop – but without following up with counseling, the likelihood of relapse is high. This goes for anyone who has experienced drug dependence, whether the drugs were prescribed by a GP, over the counter, or bought on the street.

“Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way.”
Abraham Lincoln