Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment in Los Angeles

Medically reviewed by Dr. Eric Chegouri, MD, Medical Director · Last reviewed November 7, 2026

Prescription drug addiction rarely looks the way people expect. It often begins with a real medical need: a back injury, surgery, panic attacks, sleepless nights or trouble focusing at work. The medication helps, then it helps a little less, and before long you are taking more, refilling early, or feeling unwell without it.

None of that makes you weak or reckless. These medications change the brain in predictable ways. Reggie's Recovery in Sun Valley provides medical detox, residential treatment and outpatient care for adults across Los Angeles who are struggling with opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines, stimulants and other prescription medications.

How Prescription Drug Misuse Usually Starts

NIDA defines prescription drug misuse as taking a medication in a way not intended by the prescriber: a higher dose, more often, for a longer time, by a different route such as crushing or snorting, for the feeling it produces, or using someone else's prescription. Misuse can lead to physical dependence and to addiction.

The paths in are familiar:

• After an injury or surgery, an opioid prescription relieves pain and also eases stress, so use continues after the pain fades.
• For anxiety or sleep, a benzodiazepine or sleep aid works quickly, and nights without it start to feel impossible.
• Under pressure to perform, students and professionals take stimulants to study, work longer or stay sharp.
• From the medicine cabinet, leftover pills from a family member or friend become an easy, seemingly safe option.

Because the drug came from a pharmacy, it can feel safer than street drugs. That belief is one reason misuse can go on quietly for months or years.

Commonly Misused Prescription Drugs

Three classes account for most prescription drug misuse. Each affects the body differently, carries different risks and needs a different approach to withdrawal.

Opioid painkillers

Prescription opioids relieve pain by binding to opioid receptors, and they also produce warmth and calm that can be powerfully reinforcing. Tolerance builds quickly, so people need more for the same effect. The CDC notes that prescription opioids remain a major contributor to overdose deaths in the United States. Our opioid rehab page covers this class in more depth.

Benzodiazepines and sleep medications

Sedatives slow the central nervous system. Dependence can develop even with prescribed use, and stopping suddenly can be dangerous. Read our full guide to benzodiazepine addiction treatment for withdrawal and tapering.

Prescription stimulants

Stimulants increase dopamine and norepinephrine, producing focus, energy and sometimes euphoria. Taken in high doses or by people without ADHD, they can strain the heart and trigger anxiety, insomnia and paranoia. There is currently no FDA-approved medication for stimulant use disorder, so treatment relies on behavioral therapies and medical support.

Warning Signs of Prescription Drug Misuse

Prescription misuse often shows up first in patterns around the medication itself.

If these sound familiar, our anonymous Self-Check is a private place to start, and our article on the signs of addiction goes deeper.

For a fuller checklist, see our guide to the signs of prescription drug addiction.

Counterfeit Pills and the Fentanyl Risk

When prescriptions run out, many people turn to pills from friends, social media or the street. Today that is one of the most dangerous choices a person can make. The DEA warns that criminal networks mass-produce fake pills designed to look exactly like oxycodone, Xanax, Adderall and other medications, and that many contain fentanyl.

People who have been taking prescription pills may have tolerance to a predictable dose, not to a pill of unknown strength. That gap is where overdoses happen. Learn more on our fentanyl addiction page.

Why Prescription Drug Withdrawal Needs Medical Care

Withdrawal varies by drug class, and that is exactly why a medical assessment comes first.

• Opioid painkillers: withdrawal brings aches, sweating, nausea, diarrhea, insomnia and cravings. It is rarely life-threatening, but it is miserable, and after detox, lower tolerance makes relapse especially dangerous.
• Benzodiazepines and other sedatives: withdrawal can cause seizures and can be life-threatening. These medications should never be stopped abruptly after regular use; a supervised taper is the standard of care.
• Stimulants: the "crash" brings exhaustion, depression and sometimes suicidal thoughts, which call for close mental-health support.

Many people use more than one medication, or combine pills with alcohol, which makes withdrawal harder to predict. Detox at home is not a safe plan.

For a deeper look, see our full guide to prescription drug withdrawal symptoms and timeline.

Prescription Drug Treatment at Reggie's

Inpatient medical detox

Care starts with an initial assessment, including bloodwork, vitals and a mental-health screening, at our hilltop campus in Sun Valley. Our medical detox provides 24/7 nursing, an on-call physician, comfort medications and tapering protocols, in private suites with mountain views. Detox typically lasts 5 to 10 days.

Medication-assisted treatment for opioid painkillers

For opioid painkiller addiction, medication-assisted treatment can reduce cravings and withdrawal and support long-term recovery. We offer buprenorphine (Suboxone) and naltrexone, including the extended-release injection, combined with therapy. Methadone is not offered at Reggie's.

Residential treatment

Residential treatment typically lasts 30 to 90 days, with extensions based on clinical need. Clients take part in individual and group therapy, CBT, DBT, EMDR, Motivational Interviewing, family therapy and relapse prevention, plus yoga, meditation, art and fitness.

Dual-diagnosis care

Our dual-diagnosis program treats depression, anxiety, trauma and PTSD, bipolar disorder and ADHD alongside substance use, with on-staff psychiatric care and evaluations led by our Medical Director.

Outpatient and sober living

Our PHP and IOP programs at Reggie's Treatment Center offer day and evening tracks with the same clinical team, and sober living provides structure while you return to work and family life.

If You Still Live with Pain, Anxiety or ADHD

One of the biggest fears people have about treatment is losing the relief the medication provided. That fear is understandable, and it is part of what your care team plans for.

If you live with chronic pain, your team will factor it into detox and medication decisions and help you coordinate with your other doctors. If anxiety or insomnia led to a sedative, therapy such as CBT and skills like breathwork and meditation become part of the plan. If you were prescribed a stimulant for ADHD, your psychiatric team will evaluate your symptoms and discuss safe options. The goal is not to leave the original problem untreated, but to treat it in a way that does not put your recovery at risk.

Confidentiality, Work and Your Career

Prescription drug misuse is common among busy professionals, parents and anyone carrying heavy responsibilities, and worry about work keeps many from seeking help. Treatment at Reggie's is confidential under HIPAA and federal 42 CFR Part 2 protections. Insurance verification does not notify your employer, and our team can help with FMLA paperwork.

For Families

If you suspect a loved one is misusing prescriptions, start with what you have observed: pills running out early, new prescribers, changes in mood or sleep. Avoid accusations and focus on concern. Secure and count medications at home, and dispose of unused pills through a pharmacy drop box or a DEA Take Back event. Keeping naloxone in the home is a sensible precaution when opioids are present.

Our family resources and free guide The First 48 Hours can help you plan the conversation and next steps.

Getting Started

Admissions is available 24/7, and the process is simple.

1. Step 1Call us

   Talk confidentially with our admissions team at (818) 355-1200 about what you are taking and what you need.

2. Step 2Verify insurance

   We check your benefits for free, usually in 15 to 30 minutes. Most PPO plans are accepted.

3. Step 3Begin treatment

   Most people complete the process in under two hours and are admitted the same day, and transportation can be coordinated if needed.

You can also explore the Insurance Decoder, read our insurance coverage guide, or learn more about admissions.

It started with a prescription. It doesn't have to end your life. Effective treatment exists — and it's covered by most insurance.