Most prescription pill addiction starts with a real prescription for a real condition. That doesn’t change the recovery — but it changes the story.
People who become dependent on prescription medications often experience the addiction differently than people whose substance use started elsewhere. There’s no clear moral story to tell. You took what your doctor prescribed. Your body adapted. The medication stopped working as well. You needed more. The cycle escalated.
Whether it’s opioid pills (Vicodin, Percocet, OxyContin), benzodiazepines (Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan), stimulants (Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin), or sleep medications (Ambien, Lunesta), the clinical truth is the same: physical dependence and behavioral patterns of use are real, and the path out requires medical and therapeutic support.
The categories we treat most often
Prescription opioids. Vicodin, Percocet, OxyContin, Norco, Tramadol, and others. Many people transition from prescription opioids to heroin or fentanyl as access changes or tolerance increases. Treatment may include medication-assisted treatment with buprenorphine or naltrexone, depending on the situation. See our opioid treatment page for more detail.
Benzodiazepines. Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, Valium, and others. Requires medical supervision for discontinuation — benzodiazepine withdrawal can include seizures. We do slow, gradual tapers paired with anxiety-focused therapy. See our benzodiazepine treatment page for more.
Prescription stimulants. Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, Concerta. Often prescribed for ADHD, sometimes for narcolepsy. Treatment involves discontinuation, evaluation of whether ADHD is genuinely present, and if so, exploration of non-stimulant treatment options. See our stimulant treatment page for the behavioral framework.
Sleep medications. Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata. Often produces tolerance and dependence quickly. Treatment involves discontinuation paired with cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) — which has stronger long-term efficacy than sleep medications anyway.
Combinations. Many clients arrive with dependence on multiple prescription medications — often an opioid plus a benzodiazepine, or a stimulant plus a sleep aid. Treatment plans address all of them, in the right sequence, with appropriate medical supervision.
Coordinating with your prescriber
If you’re comfortable with it, we coordinate with your original prescribing physician. Often they want to help, didn’t intend for dependence to develop, and welcome a plan to safely discontinue. Other times the prescribing relationship has been part of the problem, and clients prefer to leave it behind. Either path is valid, and we follow your direction.
What it costs
Prescription medication addiction treatment is covered by Medicaid (Health First Colorado), Medicare, and most commercial insurance under behavioral health and medical detox benefits. We verify benefits at no cost.