Are there any statistics available showing the percentage of patients who are prescribed anti-depressants/anti-anxiety medications during or after substance abuse rehab programs?

I couldn’t find those statistics, but I imagine it is quite high, because so many people in substance abuse programs are self-medicating with their drug of choice for underlying depression.

@marinelife: Exactly – but me saying it is not the same as me backing it up with facts or a site.

I don’t know the stats, but when I worked in drug rehab they were not allowed any anti-anxieties like bensos. Once in a while we did have patients on anti-depressants. If they were dual diagnosis patients, or some other diagnosis, then sometimes other medications were prescribed, but the addiction specialists really hated having to treat with anything. Most of the addicts did smoke, and they were allowed to smoke, given smoke breaks regularly.

Addicts need to learn to tolerate emotional discomfort and deal with their pain, not medicate themselves. Addiction is typically self-medicating oneself. Doctor prescribed drugs are basically the same in a sense. That is why the diagnosis really matters.