P R E S C R I P T I O N D R U G A B U S E I N T H E U S

When people say "drug

abuse," most people

think of illegal street

drugs like cocaine,

methamphetamine, and

heroin.

But these kinds of drugs

are only a part of the

whole picture.

Millions of Americans,

some of whom have

never bought an illegal

street drug in their life,

have abused or are

currently abusing

prescription drugs.

P R E S C R I P T I O N D R U G A B U S E

W H AT I S P R E S C R I P T I O N D R U G A B U S E ?

• Taking medication

not prescribed to you

• Taking more than the

recommended dosage

• Using medication for

something other than

its intended purpose

• Taking medication in

a method other than

prescribed (injecting,

snorting, etc.)

Prescription drug abuse is the use of regulated narcotics in

ways other than prescribed by one's doctor. This includes:

P R E S C R I P T I O N D R U G A D D I C T I O N

Abusing drugs, even those that have legally been prescribed, often leads to

addiction. Prescription drug abuse is the fastest growing type of drug abuse in

the US. In 2008 alone, there were 15,000 overdose deaths from prescription

drugs, more than the number of deaths caused by cocaine and heroin combined.1

H E A L T H E F F E C T S O F Even if someone abusing

prescription drugs doesn't

overdose, they can still suffer

from one or more ill effects on

their health.

Depending on the type of

drugs they are abusing and the

frequency of use, prescription

drug abusers can suffer from:

• Hallucinations

• Irregular heartbeat

• High blood pressure

• Hostile/paranoid

behavior

• Impaired motor function

• Permanent brain and

neurological damage

• And more P R E S C R I P T I O N D R U G S

THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

In addition to overdoses and other

health problems, prescription drug

abuse costs the US economy and

insurance companies billions of dollars

every year in fraud, prevention efforts,

and enforcement actions.

• Each individual abuser costs

insurers $10,000-15,000 per year.

• In 2006, the estimated cost of lost

productivity from prescription

drug abuse was $42 billion.

• That same year, associated criminal

justice costs were $8.2 billion.

These expenses result in higher taxes

and insurance premiums for every

American, even those who don't abuse

prescription drugs.1

T Y P E S O F P R E S C R I P T I O N D R U G S

There are many different types of prescription drugs, which can have

different effects on the user. The most common categories are:

• Painkillers

Vicodin, OxyContin, and other opioids

• Stimulants

Adderall, Ritalin, and other ADHD drugs

• Anti-anxiety drugs

Valium, Xanax, etc.

• Cough syrup/cold remedies

These can often be bought over the counter, and include the

addictive ingredient dextromethorphan (DXM or DM).

OVERCOMING PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

If you or a loved one is currently abusing prescription drugs, it's not too late

to recover. With the help of Yellowstone Recovery or another affordable drug

treatment center, you can leave prescription drug abuse behind and learn

how to live a life free of chemical dependency.

T R E A T M E N T C E N T E R O P T I O N S

When you check into one of Yellowstone Recovery's Orange County treatment

centers, our staff will help you through the multi-step process of overcoming

prescription drugs:

I. Detox (10 Days) – Medically assisted withdrawal from prescription drug use;

24-hour observation and introduction to a 12-step program.

II. Primary Care Residential Treatment (30 Days) – A combination of 12-step

meetings, group and individual therapy, and separation from friends and

family in order to identify the key issues that are affecting their recovery.

III. Residential Treatment Extended Care (90 Days) – Patients continue to live in

our Orange County facility, but are gradually allowed more freedom to visit

with family, look for a part-time job, and re-establish their outside life.

IV. Outpatient Treatment – After patients leave our facility, their treatment

continues with regular group and individual therapy sessions, as well as

continued 12-step meetings.

The road to recovery starts with a confidential phone call with one of our advisors. If

you or a loved one needs our help, contact us as soon as possible so that we can begin

the journey back to health together.

Yellowstone Recovery has treatment facilities placed throughout Costa Mesa

and Newport Beach, CA. We treat patients of both genders, regardless of age,

and provide them with the care and knowledge they need to overcome

addiction. Learn more at: http://www.yellowstonerecovery.com