Many people abuse prescription drugs—benzodiazepines like Xanax and Valium, narcotic painkillers like hydrocodone and oxycodone, sleep aids like Ambien and amphetamines like Ritalin and Adderall. Whether people began using these drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes, all of these drugs are addictive and can harm relationships in the following ways:
- Draining finances
- Encouraging dishonesty and deceptive behaviors
- Creating significant legal and safety risks
- Leading to abuse
Prescription drug abuse can also devastate a user’s health, which can also strain a relationship. If your boyfriend uses prescription drugs, know what signs indicate abuse to know when you must seek help.
Signs of Prescription Drug Abuse
The following signs are associated with prescription drug abuse:
- Drug use that exceeds the prescribed dosage and time limits
- Escalating issues of tardiness, absenteeism and diminished focus at work or school
- Inability to fulfill basic responsibilities
- Multiple doctor visits without a legitimate health need
- Increased mood issues like depression, mania and anxiety
- Recurring instances of memory loss and blackouts
- Physical ailments like headaches, nausea and flu-like symptoms
- Changes in body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate
Some symptoms develop based on the substance used, like scratching the skin for painkillers, insomnia with amphetamines and perpetual drowsiness for benzodiazepines. If these signs manifest, then your boyfriend needs help immediately.
Help for an Addicted Boyfriend
When helping your addicted boyfriend, consider the following factors beforehand:
- Do not enable drug use by making excuses for him
- Consider any changes you can make to help, like also quitting drugs
- Understand that addiction is a neurobiological disease, and that recovery takes time
The best way to help your boyfriend is with professional addiction treatment, but the challenge to beginning treatment may be getting your boyfriend to agree to help. However, you can encourage him through the following actions:
- Involve his parents
- Use a family mediator
- Stage an addiction intervention with loved ones he respects
If an intervention is necessary, professional moderators can use the most effective approach, which generally includes letters that participants share. If the intervention is staged without help, then make sure everyone encourages the addict while avoiding judgment.
Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment
It helps to know what treatment entails when encouraging rehab, so note that addiction treatment usually involves the following services:
- Medically supervised detox that tapers use
- Integrated care for co-occurring mental health disorders
- Holistic options that treat chronic pain or rebound effects like anxiety and insomnia
- Behavioral therapies that motivate healthier mental and emotional responses
- Counseling to address unresolved conflicts and identify drug use triggers
- Relationship or family counseling to resolve unhealthy dynamics
- Group support to gain perspective from other recovering addicts
Encourage your boyfriend to enter treatment rather than to quit on his own. Detox can be uncomfortable and dangerous, and staying sober is often more difficult than getting off drugs, but professional treatment empowers patients for lasting recovery.
Prescription Drug Addiction Help
Our admissions coordinators are available 24 hours a day at a toll-free helpline to inform you about rehab facilities, interventions and treatment methods. They can also check your health insurance for rehab benefits, so seek professional help right now to begin recovery.