Prescription drug addiction treatment in the UK

Prescription drugs are used to treat pain and other symptoms, with some highly addictive. Tackling an addiction to prescription drugs by yourself can be difficult and also dangerous.

Getting appropriate professional support is advisable as this is likely to make the process more comfortable and effective.

Understanding prescription drug addiction

Medication may be prescribed to treat a particular condition, for example, pain as a result of injury or illness, or anxiety. However, issues may arise when someone takes higher doses than they’ve been prescribed, they take medication without a prescription or they take it for non-medical reasons, like achieving a ‘high’.

Misuse of prescription drugs becomes an addiction when the person taking them becomes physically or psychologically dependent on the medication. Dependence and addiction can significantly interfere with their ability to function in daily life, and can lead to dangerous health consequences.

Commonly used prescription drugs include opioids (painkillers), benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety medications) and stimulants (like medication prescribed for ADHD).

Addiction typically develops through a combination of biological, psychological and social factors. Repeatedly taking prescription drugs can alter your brain chemistry, particularly in the ‘reward system’ of the brain, which can produce cravings for the medication even when you no longer need it medically.

Taking medication for longer periods than necessary, having a genetic predisposition to addiction, or self-medicating with drugs to deal with extreme stress are all potential causes of addiction.

Commonly abused medications

Types of prescription drug treatments

Treatment for prescription drug addiction generally includes several core approaches that can be adapted to individuals based on the type of medication involved. Here are the common elements that feature across different treatment plans:

Common treatments for prescription drug addiction

• Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): Medications like methadone and buprenorphine (sometimes accompanied with a sedative) are used to curb withdrawal symptoms during the detox process. Naltrexone, an opioid blocker, is commonly used for opioid addiction – helping to reduce cravings and prevent relapse
• Behavioural therapies: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), helps address the psychological aspects of addiction and encourage healthier coping mechanisms. CBT uses techniques like using rewards to encourage positive behaviour (contingency management) and building your motivation to change (motivational interviewing). help address the psychological aspects of addiction and encourage healthier coping mechanisms
• Detoxification: Medically supervised detoxification ensures safe withdrawal, offering medical support as the body adjusts to the drug leaving your body
• Support Groups: Peer-based groups like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) provide ongoing support to help with long-term recovery and community connection

Specific treatments based on drug type

• Opioid addiction: Often involves MAT with specific medications such as methadone or buprenorphine used to reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms
• Benzodiazepine addiction: Gradual tapering is commonly advised to minimise withdrawal effects, alongside non-addictive anxiety treatments for long-term anxiety management
• Stimulant addiction: Behavioural interventions like contingency management and support groups help modify behaviours associated with stimulants, while medically managed withdrawal addresses specific symptoms for a safer detox

Treatment options

Treatment for prescription drug addiction can take place in a range of settings, depending on the level of support you need. 

• Inpatient treatment and residential programmes: Inpatient treatment typically lasts for 28 days, including a 7 to 10-day detox. There are also 7, 14 and 21-day options, depending on your situation. During the programme, you’ll stay at a treatment centre to receive intensive therapy and support. 24-hour medical supervision ensures safety during the detox and early recovery stages.
• Outpatient treatment: Where you attend a number of sessions while also keeping up with your work or personal commitments. This support involves counselling and relapse prevention, helping you achieve long-term recovery. You can also access this type of treatment online.

The three stages of treatment:

• Detoxification: Taking place during inpatient treatment, a drug detox is the controlled removal of a toxic substance from your body. Medication can help you to manage your withdrawal symptoms, ease anxiety, support sleep and address other challenges during the process. You’ll be monitored by our expert team round-the-clock, to ensure you’re as comfortable as possible at all times 
• Therapy: The next step is to address the psychological and behavioural aspects of addiction through various therapeutic approaches. For example, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for addictions is a highly effective treatment approach
• Aftercare: Ongoing step-down support and counselling post-treatment helps to prevent relapse and support long-term recovery. At Priory, we provide free aftercare for 12 months to everyone who has completed a 28-day inpatient stay with us

How to access treatment

Private treatment

Priory treatment centres are located across the UK including services in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow, meaning that people can access treatment in a location that’s convenient for them. 
Accessing private addiction treatment at Priory begins with a free, confidential assessment to discuss your needs and explore treatment options. 

During this initial assessment, one of our addiction experts will listen to your concerns, answer any questions you might have, and explain the different treatment options to you.

At Priory, we pride ourselves on providing compassionate care from the very first point of contact, helping you feel reassured and fully understood as you take the first steps towards recovery.

All Priory treatment plans are individually tailored and structured within National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. Our expert addiction treatment teams can make adjustments to treatment plans based on your progress and emerging needs.

Free services

It is possible to access free services for addiction treatment. You can call the Frank helpline on 0300 123 6600 for advice on support services near you.

Your GP can advise on NHS options although waiting lists may be long, depending on where you live and how severe your addiction is. This can be difficult, especially if you're feeling distressed and not like yourself.

Addiction treatment at Priory offers fast access to support, with waiting times that are significantly shorter than the national average. Our services can be either self-funded (meaning that you pay for this yourself), or funded via private medical insurance (PMI).