America is currently mired in an epidemic of prescription drug abuse. The abusers are medical patients with a legitimate prescription from a physical condition, as well as individuals who are buying prescription drugs right off the streets from illicit drug dealers. The drugs don’t care who is using them. Drugs like amphetamines and prescription painkillers are dominating the headlines because of how easy it is for people to get access to these types of prescription drugs.
Because of the illicit nature of prescription drug abuse, there’s a lot of addiction sufferers who are hesitant to seek help. Their reluctance comes from two sources. First, they have legitimate concerns about the detox process that could expose them to some significant withdrawal symptoms. Second, they have concerns about getting involved with law enforcement over their illegal actiona.
The concern over withdrawal symptoms is legitimate. Depending on the substance of choice and the extent of someone’s addiction, there’s a real possibility the addiction sufferer would face the possibility of some very troubling withdrawal symptoms. Using prescription opiate painkillers as an example, here’s some of the more significant withdrawal symptoms an addiction sufferer might encounter if they suddenly decide to stop using:
- Problems with nausea and vomiting
- A sudden escalation in both heart rate and blood pressure
- Severe muscle cramping throughout the body
- Loss of motor control and the ability to concentrate on normal tasks
- Hallucinations and nightmares that interrupt sleep
- Tremors throughout the extremities
- Body convulsions
- Psychological difficulties with depression, anxiety and possible suicide
With these kinds of potential symptoms, it’s best that addiction sufferers get help with the detox process. Unfortunately, the fear of legal ramifications stops some people from doing just that. In the following sections, the discussion will focus on how a client’s privacy is protected during treatment.
Who Will Be Told About My Medical Detox from Prescription Drugs?
When someone enters rehab, it’s important that they have confidence in the staff members with which they will be dealing. It wouldn’t likely sit well with a potential client if they felt their privacy was not going to be protected. That’s why most rehab facilities maintain strict adherence to a policy of protecting their client’s anonymity and right to total privacy.
When it comes to someone becoming addicted to prescription medication, there will be staff concerns about what has been transpiring. Staff members will be fully aware that the clients are doing things they are not supposed to be doing. Of course, it’s really not their job to be judgmental. A rehab facility’s job it to treat clients and give them a realistic opportunity to fully recover from their addiction illnesses.
With all of that said, there are circumstances under which a rehab facility may want to broach the subject of reporting prescription medication abuse. Three main reasons why this might happen include:
- With the client’s written permission
- If the client is still involved with an illegal enterprise involving prescription drugs
- If the rehab facility’s staff believe the client’s welfare it at risk with further prescription drug abuse
Client’s Written Permission
There are circumstances under which a rehab therapist might request access to a client’s physician if the client is abusing prescription drugs for which they have a legitimate prescription. In such cases, the client could be asked to give written permission for the contact. The client might want to consider allowing such contact if they believe it would enhance their chances of a full recovery from their addiction.
Illegal Activities
When a client enters rehab, there’s a presumption they are ready to remove their involvement from any illicit drug activities. If a client were to attempt to secure or sell prescription drugs while in rehab, the rehab’s staff would have a responsibility to contact law enforcement.
Client’s Welfare is at Risk
Once a client enters rehab for the second or third time due to abusing their prescription drugs, there’s a possibility the rehab facility’s staff will reach out to the attending physician to report the problem. They would only take this unusual step if they thought the client’s welfare was at risk.
If you have any concerns about your privacy when getting treatment in our rehab facility, you should call us and discuss your concerns. You can speak with one of our staff members by calling us at 844-903-2111.
