What is Painkiller Addiction

Learn More About Painkiller Addiction

When a person is struggling with pain that can’t be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers and is unable to cope with his or her discomfort, a doctor may prescribe prescription painkillers. These opioid drugs are extremely effective at alleviating pain due to injury, surgery, and a whole host of medical conditions, yet they are also very addictive and should always be taken with caution.

OxyContin, Vicodin, Opana, hydrocodone, and Fentanyl are all examples of prescription painkillers, and they are also unfortunately enticing substances to abuse for the high they can induce. If you’ve abused these kinds of medications and if it’s become apparent that you can’t go about your day without taking a painkiller or painkillers, you have likely developed an addiction. Prescription painkiller addiction, as you know, is exceptionally difficult to both maintain and overcome. These medications can be difficult to acquire, which could mean that you’ve resorted to illegal means to get them. Additionally, you may have tried to stop your addiction on your own, but fell short in this endeavor because the withdrawal symptoms that emerged were just too much to bear and you resumed your use of these drugs once more.

What’s crucial for you to know, however, is that there is but another way to live your life. It’s very possible that you can leave the abuse of prescription painkillers in the past, achieve sobriety, and live to your potential. By seeking effective addiction treatment, you don’t have to be controlled by painkillers anymore.

Statistics

Statistics of Painkiller Addiction

The opioid crisis in the United States is a result of more than just an overwhelming number of people abusing heroin. Painkillers, which are also opioids, are very much part of this ever-growing problem, and are believed to be one of the major causes for this epidemic. Doctors in this country write more prescriptions for opioid pain relievers than any other nation in the world. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, reported that those who use these medications have risen four-hundred percent since the start of the 21^st century, which likely started many people on the arduous path of painkiller addiction. Lastly, with this increase in the number of painkiller users, the number of individuals passing away due to painkiller-related concerns has also risen at a staggering rate.

Causes and Risk Factors

Causes and Risk Factors for Painkiller Addiction

The reasons why and how you’ve come to battle an addiction to prescription painkillers may seem like a mystery to you. After all, when you first abused your painkiller of choice, you likely never intended on becoming addicted to it. However, if you’d like to understand what may have caused you to now struggle with this form of chemical dependency, read through the following and determine if these causes and risk factors are applicable to you and your own circumstances:

Genetic: A great deal of research supports the notion that substance abuse and addiction are hereditary. Not to say you’re guaranteed to struggle with such issues just because your relatives have, but your risk of grappling with an addiction to painkillers or other drugs is much higher than if you didn’t have a family history of substance abuse.

Environmental: What many people neglect to consider when thinking about what causes an addiction to develop is the environmental influences that may have added to the formation of this type of problem. For instance, if you’ve been exposed to substance abuse, lack healthy coping mechanisms, and/or have subpar social or familial support, you may be more likely to abuse painkillers if you can get them. Furthermore, if you’ve been given a painkiller to alleviate temporary or chronic pain due to an injury or medical condition, your risk for painkiller addiction also increases. In sum, it’s crucial to consider the outside influences that may have made you susceptible to this sort of substance abuse.

Risk Factors:

Being able to get painkillers easily
Suffering from a pain condition
Being the victim of trauma
Enduring ongoing stress
Family history of substance abuse
Lacking coping skills
Personal history of substance abuse

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of Painkiller Addiction

When you’re assessed for addiction services, you will know for sure if you’re battling an addiction to prescription painkillers. However, if you’ve yet to seek an assessment for services for this sort of chemical dependency problem, you can peruse the following list of symptoms, and then seek the professional care you need to ameliorate any symptoms present:

Behavioral symptoms:

No longer partaking in enjoyable activities in favor of painkiller abuse
Slurred speech
No longer spending time with others that were once important
Taking other people’s painkillers
Attempting to get painkillers from multiple doctors
Using painkillers when it’s dangerous to do so

Physical symptoms:

Constipation
Low blood pressure
Sleep problems
Heavy sweating
Loss of motor control
Itchiness
Dilated pupils

Cognitive symptoms:

Confusion
Disorientation
Inability to make sound decisions

Psychosocial symptoms:

Depression
Irritability
Shifts in mood

Effects

Effects of Painkiller Addiction

Someone in recovery will likely never tell you that the abuse of prescription painkillers benefited them and those around them. The reason for this is that the misuse of these medications often brings about several detrimental consequences that are life-altering. If any of the following has happened to you, you could be an excellent candidate for professional treatment. If they haven’t happened yet, but you are beginning to notice your life taking a negative turn because of your addiction, seek help now so that you can possibly avoid them entirely:

Job loss
Onset of physical ailments
Demise of meaningful relationships
Family conflict
Divorce
Financial instability
Homelessness
Legal problems
Onset of mental health disorders
Polysubstance abuse
Suicidal ideation
Suicide attempts
Self-harm

Withdrawal and Overdose

Effects of Withdrawal and Overdose

Effects of prescription painkiller withdrawal: Experiencing prescription painkiller withdrawal is one of the most commonly reported deterrents for getting sober without professional help. However, if any of the following occur in your life when you’re not under the influence of a painkiller, you can benefit greatly from starting an addiction treatment program to positively change your life:

Watery eyes
Vomiting
Twitches
Tremors
Sleep problems
Runny nose
Powerful cravings
Pain in bones
Nausea
Muscle pain
Irritability
Heavy perspiration
Fever
Dysphoria
Diarrhea
Appetite loss
Agitation

Effects of prescription painkiller overdose: Over-consuming a prescription painkiller(s) is never a good idea. In fact, if you take too much of these sort of medications, you could be in danger of experiencing an overdose. If any of the following effects happen to you, it’s imperative that you get prompt medical care in order to prevent a potentially fatal outcome:

Slowed pulse
Seizure
Pinpoint pupils
Loss of consciousness
Disorientation
Breathing problems

Co-Occurring Disorders

Co-Occurring Disorders & the Complexity of Painkiller Addiction

A painkiller addiction problem is an issue that frequently exists at the same time as other mental health and substance abuse concerns. Therefore, it’s good for you to know that you can receive all-encompassing treatment that addresses your painkiller addiction and the following co-occurring disorders at the same time: