Medically Reviewed By

Brittany Kowalski, LCSW, ACS, CCS

Clinical Director, Speranza Behavioral Health · Last clinically reviewed June 2026

Prescription Drug Addiction in NJ: Opioids, Benzos, Stimulants, and How to Get Help

Prescription drug addiction carries a particularly heavy burden of shame — often because it begins not with illegal drug use but with a legitimate prescription. A surgery. A back injury. An anxiety diagnosis. A prescription for ADHD. The gradual development of dependence on a medication a doctor prescribed can feel like a personal failure rather than a predictable pharmacological process. It is not a failure. It is a medical condition — and it's highly treatable.

This guide addresses the three primary categories of prescription drug addiction in New Jersey — opioids, benzodiazepines, and stimulants — including how each develops, its warning signs, and the treatment options available at Speranza Behavioral Health.

Category 1: Prescription Opioid Addiction

Common Medications

Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco), oxymorphone (Opana), morphine, tramadol, fentanyl patches.

How Addiction Develops

Prescription opioids are among the most effective pain medications available — and among the most dependence-producing. Physical dependence can develop within 2–4 weeks of regular use. What begins as prescribed pain management becomes a daily need as:

1. Tolerance develops — the same dose produces less effect
2. Withdrawal begins between doses — creating physical illness if doses are missed or reduced
3. The medication is no longer primarily managing pain but preventing withdrawal
4. Obtaining additional pills beyond the prescription becomes necessary

Warning Signs of Prescription Opioid Addiction

• Using more medication than prescribed
• Running out of medication early
• "Doctor shopping" — visiting multiple physicians for prescriptions
• Obtaining pills from friends, family, or illicit sources
• Continuing to take opioids after pain has resolved
• Experiencing withdrawal (sweating, nausea, muscle aches) between doses
• Neglecting responsibilities at home, work, or school

Treatment

The gold standard is Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) with buprenorphine (Suboxone) or naltrexone (Vivitrol), integrated with PHP or IOP behavioral treatment. Learn more →

Category 2: Benzodiazepine Addiction (Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, Valium)

How Addiction Develops

Benzodiazepines — prescribed for anxiety, panic disorder, insomnia, and seizures — are among the most widely prescribed and most dependence-producing medications available. Physical dependence can develop within 2–4 weeks of daily use. Tolerance develops rapidly, requiring dose escalation for the same anxiolytic effect. When use is reduced or stopped, rebound anxiety — often far more severe than the original anxiety — occurs.

Critical safety warning: Benzodiazepine withdrawal, like alcohol withdrawal, can be life-threatening. Seizures can occur during abrupt discontinuation of high-dose benzodiazepines. NEVER stop benzodiazepines abruptly without medical supervision.

Warning Signs of Benzo Addiction

• Using more than prescribed
• Running out early
• Extreme anxiety between doses (rebound)
• Using benzos to sleep, to function, or to manage stress rather than only when prescribed
• Combining with alcohol or opioids (extremely dangerous — dramatically increases overdose risk)
• Experiencing blackouts or memory gaps while on benzos

Treatment

Medically supervised benzo taper is always required — abrupt cessation is dangerous. Treatment involves a carefully structured, slow taper (often using a longer-acting benzodiazepine like diazepam/Valium) combined with behavioral therapy addressing the underlying anxiety that the medication was managing, and usually concurrent dual diagnosis treatment.

Category 3: Prescription Stimulant Addiction (Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse)

How Addiction Develops

ADHD stimulant medications — amphetamine salts (Adderall, Vyvanse) and methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta) — are Schedule II controlled substances with significant addiction potential, particularly when used in doses higher than prescribed, by individuals without ADHD, or through non-oral routes of administration.

Addiction can develop from:

• Legitimate ADHD prescriptions taken in escalating doses for performance enhancement
• Diversion — use of stimulants prescribed to others
• Academic or occupational performance pressure driving escalating use

Warning Signs

• Using more than prescribed
• Using stimulants recreationally or for energy/weight loss
• Inability to function or concentrate without stimulants
• Stimulant-induced anxiety, paranoia, or heart palpitations
• Intense depression, fatigue, and hypersomnia when not taking stimulants (crash)

Treatment

There is no FDA-approved medication for stimulant use disorder. Treatment is behavioral: CBT, DBT, and contingency management within PHP or IOP. Underlying ADHD — if present — is addressed through non-stimulant ADHD medications (atomoxetine, guanfacine) and behavioral strategies.

Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment at Speranza Behavioral Health

Speranza Behavioral Health in Woodbury, NJ treats prescription drug addiction across all three categories within our comprehensive PHP and IOP programs. We accept all major NJ insurance plans.

Call (866) 814-0126 for a free, confidential same-day assessment.

Verify your insurance →

Related Reading:

• What Is MAT?
• Anxiety and Addiction
• Does Insurance Cover Addiction Treatment in NJ?

About the Author

Brittany Kowalski

Brittany Kowalski is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and behavioral health advocate at Speranza Behavioral Health in Woodbury, NJ. With over a decade of experience in addiction recovery and mental health treatment, she specializes in dual diagnosis care, trauma-informed therapy, and evidence-based outpatient programs serving South Jersey communities.