Prescription drug addiction
It often starts with a real prescription for real pain, anxiety or sleep. If it’s gotten out of hand, you’re not alone and you’re not a bad person. Here’s how to get off safely and still treat what the medicine was for.
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Updated October 2026
Prescription drug misuse means taking a medicine in a way it wasn’t prescribed: more of it, more often, someone else’s, or for the feeling it gives. Over time it can turn into addiction, and getting off safely usually needs a doctor’s help.
The three groups misused most
| Type | Examples | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Opioid painkillers | Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Norco), tramadol, codeine, morphine | Opioid treatment |
| Sedatives and sleep medications | Alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam, zolpidem (Ambien) | Benzodiazepine treatment |
| Stimulants | Amphetamine salts (Adderall), methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) | Stimulant treatment |
Signs of a prescription drug problem
- Running out early, “losing” prescriptions or asking for early refills
- Seeing more than one doctor for the same prescription
- Taking pills for the feeling, not the symptom
- Crushing, snorting or mixing pills with alcohol
- Feeling sick, anxious or unable to sleep without them
How treatment works
The plan depends on the medication. Opioid painkiller dependence is usually treated with medication like buprenorphine plus counseling. Sedatives need a slow, supervised taper. Stimulants are treated with therapy and care for any ADHD. In every case, good treatment also deals with the pain, anxiety, sleep problem or attention issue that the prescription was for.
Ask any program how it will handle your underlying condition. The best ones bring in pain specialists, psychiatrists or sleep medicine so you aren’t left without care.
Staying safe in the meantime
- Don’t stop opioids, benzodiazepines or sleep medications suddenly. Talk to a doctor first.
- Never mix opioids or benzos with alcohol.
- Keep naloxone at home if anyone takes opioids, and store medications locked up.
- Get rid of unused pills at a pharmacy take-back kiosk.
Sources
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, prescription medicines
- Florida Department of Health, E-FORCSE prescription drug monitoring program
Questions people ask us.
Don’t see yours? Call or text (305) 701‑0439. There are no wrong questions, and nothing you tell us leaves the call.
What if I still have pain?
Pain still deserves treatment. Good programs work with pain specialists on options like physical therapy, non-opioid medications, nerve treatments and, for opioid use disorder, buprenorphine, which also helps with pain.
Will my doctor find out?
Only if you choose to tell them, though it’s often a good idea. Your treatment records are protected by federal privacy law (42 CFR Part 2). Florida doctors can see controlled prescriptions in the state’s E-FORCSE database.
Can older adults go to rehab?
Yes, and many programs have experience with older adults, medical conditions and complex medication lists. Detox may need to go more slowly.
I bought pills online or from a friend. Are they safe?
Assume not. Counterfeit pills made to look like oxycodone, Xanax or Adderall often contain fentanyl. If you’re using them, carry naloxone and never use alone.
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Read moreTalk it through with someone who knows Miami’s programs.
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