Pain Killers Addiction and Abuse

Pain Killers Info

• Pain Killers Addiction and Abuse
• Pain Killers Symptoms and Warning Signs
• Pain Killers Treatment and Rehab
• Pain Killers Withdrawal and Detox

Painkillers include a wide variety of drugs, but opioids and opiates are the most abused types. They range from fentanyl (and other drugs used in the management of chronic pain) to codeine cough syrup. Used appropriately, painkillers can provide soothing relief from the uncomfortable symptoms of bone breaks, cancers and numerous other injuries. However, painkiller abuse and addiction is a growing problem.

Painkiller abuse affects people from all walks of life and socioeconomic backgrounds. No matter your reason for taking drugs, you can easily develop tolerance and dependency. This happens quickly, before you even realise that dependence or addiction are taking hold. When tolerance leads to addiction, it can be difficult to quit the pattern of abuse.

Many painkillers have opioids as a major component, which is very effective when used appropriately and also very dangerous when abused. Depending on the type of painkiller being used, you could experience common effects such as an elevated mood, relaxation, analgesia and euphoria. You might begin to use painkillers under the close supervision of a doctor, and then begin to use or abuse it for recreational purposes.

Overcoming painkiller abuse and addiction often requires professional help. Painkiller abuse causes symptoms and effects that wreak havoc on the mind and body and can eventually prove fatal. When realising that you or someone you love has a problem with painkiller abuse, it is essential to seek help as soon as possible.

What are Painkillers?

Painkillers are also known as analgesics, pain relievers or pain medicines, and are drugs designed to treat pain. There are a wide variety of painkillers available and they can be found under different brand names. Painkillers can be ingested via different methods: by mouth as a capsule, tablet or in liquid form; by injection; and through the back as a suppository. Other painkillers are available as creams or ointments.

Like other drugs, painkillers should only be used for a short period of time and at the lowest dose that can manage your pain. This method of administration can help you avoid any side-effects. If you’re experiencing toothache, you may only have to take painkillers for a matter of days or a few short weeks if you’ve pulled a muscle. Conditions such as chronic back pain or osteoarthritis could require you to take painkillers on a long-term basis.

Pain medicines are drugs that relieve or reduce headaches, arthritis, sore muscles and other aches and pains. These drugs come in different forms, with each one having its advantages and disadvantages. Certain types of pain respond better to specific types of analgesics. Your response to pain relievers will also be different from the way someone else will respond to the same drug.

The most potent pain relievers are opioids. While they are extremely effective, they can also induce serious side effects. As a result of addiction and other risks associated with the use of painkillers, it is essential to only use these drugs under your doctor’s supervision. Pain can be alleviated in a number of ways, with painkillers being just one aspect of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Different Types and Forms of Painkillers

Even though there a large number of painkillers available, they can generally be classified into three main categories. Each works in a different way. They are:

• Paracetamol – Paracetamol is widely preferred as a pain medication and has very few side effects. However, it cannot be taken carelessly, because the side effects it can produce might be devastating. One of the main side effects is liver failure, especially when you use the drug on a long-term basis and in high quantities. Combining paracetamol with acute or chronic alcohol abuse can also result in liver problems. Some well-known brand names of this drug are Panadol and Tylenol.
• Aspirin and NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) – This group of drugs is used for the treatment of mild to moderate pain, and as a remedy for inflammation and fever. They are therefore applied in cases of trauma, arthritis, dental pain, bone pain and dysmenorrhoea (painful menstruation). These drugs do not belong to the cortisone family and are effective against inflammation. Your doctor can choose the NSAID that will work best to suit your needs.
• Opioids – These drugs work on specific opioid receptors, located in the spinal cord and brain. Usually, oral opioids are prescribed to treat chronic pain. Some treatment methods involve combining opioids with other painkillers like NSAIDs and opioids to attack pain on different receptors. Used in this way, you can experience improved pain relief and reduce the risk of side effects, as your opioid requirements are typically decreased. Examples of popular opioids are morphine, codeine and pethidine.

Risk of Painkiller Abuse

Unfortunately, painkillers (including opioid prescription drugs) aren’t usually considered to be dangerous substances, as they are medically prescribed. Prescription drugs tend to create fewer stigmas when compared to illicit substances, as they are considered necessary for the treatment or management of pain. However, prescription opioids and an illegal drug like heroin affect the brain in the same way.

This similarity presents a risk of painkiller abuse and addiction, especially if used for recreational purposes. Also, as a result of consuming painkillers, you could turn to heroin as an alternative drug of choice. In many cases, opioid painkillers become gateway drugs to heroin use, dependence and addiction.

Painkiller abuse carries a wide range of potential side effects, depending on the type of drug being used. If you’re abusing stimulants such as amphetamines or cocaine, you could experience depression, lethargy and fatigue, as you come down from your ‘high’. Abusing opiate drugs such as prescription painkillers can lead to muscle aches, intestinal issues and nervousness.

One of the most serious risks of painkiller abuse is the potential for overdose, which can lead to death in some cases. If you suspect that you or someone you know has overdosed, call for emergency medical help as soon as possible. Prompt professional assistance can often limit the danger and may even save a life. The best way to prevent the risk of painkiller abuse is to seek help for drug abuse and addiction.

The Legal use of Painkillers

Previously, prescription painkillers were prescribed mainly for cancer patients, because of concerns about addictions developing. Now however, they are regarded as an essential treatment tool for cases of chronic pain. Opioids can also be of immense help if you’re suffering terrible injuries, recovering from surgery or experiencing debilitating pain.

You may not realise, but it’s breaking the law to take a narcotic painkiller from someone or give one to your friend or family member. This seemingly innocent gesture is actually a crime. The exact laws vary from state to state but if you’re caught with medications that aren’t prescribed for you (illegal prescription drugs); you can be fined or imprisoned.

In certain states, doctors are criminally liable and may have their licences revoked for writing painkiller prescriptions that lead to overdose or end up on the street. Some require pharmacies to limit their supplies and restrict how painkillers are dispensed. Finally, some states have created controlled-substance prescriptions and computerised patient registries.

How Addiction Develops: Who is most at risk of Abuse?

A vast number of people engage in substance abuse and anyone can develop a problem with alcohol and drugs. The problem may even progress further and lead to a severe addiction. Drug use affects almost everyone, regardless of gender, age, economic status or ethnicity. However, a significant amount of people who use drugs, do not develop addiction – even with heavy or regular use. There are certain risk factors associated with addition that can put you at risk of abuse. They include:

• Genetic predisposition – this includes certain characteristics in the brain that can make you more or less vulnerable to addictive substances, such as prescription painkillers.
• Psychological factors – these include stress and personality traits, such as sensation seeking or high impulsivity, anxiety, depression, eating disorders and personality disorders.
• Environmental influences – these include starting drug use at an early age; exposure to substance usage or addiction in the family (or amongst peers); physical, sexual or emotional trauma; access to drugs; and exposure to fads and popular cultures encouraging drug use.

Having one or more of these risk factors means that there’s a greater chance you’ll develop a habit of drug abuse and addiction. However, vulnerability differs from one person to the next, and the presence of a single factor cannot determine whether you will become addicted to drugs. Typically, the more risks you face, the higher your chance of abusing drugs when you have access to them.

Painkiller Abuse

One of the first painkillers to be abused was morphine. During the American civil war, it was widely used to help wounded soldiers cope with their injuries, which lead to a full-blown addiction crisis. In 1898, heroin was developed as a more effective alternative for morphine, but it only worsened the addiction problem. A little later, Oxycodone and Hydrocodone were developed, which were highly effective drugs, but also addictive as well.

Painkiller abuse is when prescription drugs are used differently from the recommendation of the prescribing doctor. Painkiller abuse includes everything from using your friend’s prescription painkiller to self-medicate your backache to injecting or snorting crushed pills to get ‘high’. In spite of the negative consequences, drug abuse is usually ongoing and compulsive.

Painkiller abuse is an increasing problem that affects all age groups, but it’s more rampant in young people. The most commonly abused prescription painkillers include stimulants, and opioid painkillers. Sedatives and anti-anxiety medications are also regularly abused, including Xanax (alprazolam), Valium (diazepam) and Ambien (zolpidem).

The early identification of painkiller abuse and treatment can prevent your problem from turning into a full-blown addiction. Talk to a doctor if you’re struggling with drug abuse. It can be challenging to talk about your addiction, but professionals are trained to help you without being judgmental. It’s easier to address the issue as soon as possible, before it leads to more severe problems that bring negative consequences.

How Painkillers are Abused

You could begin to abuse painkillers in adulthood, without any risk factors present. In many cases, painkiller abuse begins with a simple prescription from a doctor for the treatment of a legitimate condition. However, certain drugs (especially prescription pain medication) have a higher tendency to cause tolerance. This then leads to a steady increase in your dosage to achieve the same effects, which can in turn result in abuse, dependence and addiction.

Using painkillers at a higher dose or more frequently than prescribed by your doctor is a form of drug abuse. In addition, illegally obtaining and using painkillers without a prescription or any medical need for such drugs is also considered abuse. There are several ways in which painkillers are abused, with long-term abuse leading to different issues with regards the control of usage.

These issues include:

• Drug-related distress or dysfunction
• Spending significant amounts of time trying to obtain and use painkillers (or recovering from such use)
• Giving up activities that were once a priority, as a result of your use of painkillers
• Continuing to use painkillers in spite of the obvious negative effects
• Wanting to quit or reduce the intake of painkillers, but being unable to do so
• Continuing to use painkillers in spite of drug-related problems that affect your career or personal relationships

Becoming tolerant and continuing to take higher or more frequent doses can result in addiction. Furthermore, you could notice sudden and unexplained mood changes. Sometimes, you may feel ‘out of it’ for no reason at all. Erratic behaviour and jitteriness may also follow the changes in mood, accompanied by moments of sudden calm.

Financial problems could become more apparent, where large debts surface or money begins to disappear. Generally, the symptoms of painkiller abuse can be very subtle, but when something isn’t quite right, you’ll probably be able to notice it.

If you’re struggling with painkiller abuse or notice that your loved one constantly appears sedated, seek help immediately. Call a confidential helpline to speak to an addiction treatment expert and get the necessary assistance for you or your loved one today.

Physical and Psychological Effects of Painkiller Abuse

The psychological effects of painkiller abuse stem from your reasons for taking these drugs, as well as the changes that occur in your brain in the process. Initially, painkiller abuse may have started as a way to cope with pain or stress. However, the main psychological effect of abusing painkillers is the creation of a cycle whereby you feel the need to use drugs anytime you face stress or pain.

Other psychological effects of drug addiction include:

• Hallucinations
• Confusion
• Desire to engage in risky behaviour
• Complication of mental illness
• Paranoia, violence, wild mood swings, anxiety and depression
• Psychological tolerance to the drug’s effects, creating a desire to consume increasing amounts

Painkiller abuse also results in some physical effects which vary, but can be seen in different areas of the body. Usually, the primary physical effects of drug abuse occur in the brain. Substance abuse changes the way your brain functions and affects the way your body receives pleasurable feelings. These effects occur because of the increase in dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Consequently, your brain begins to expect and rely on these medications to produce a ‘high’ effect.

Other physical effects of drug addiction include:

Painkiller Addiction: Top 18 Facts

• Prescription painkillers cause more deaths than traffic accidents.
• Prescription substances are the leading drug of choice in overdose related deaths.
• According to The Substance Abuse of Mental Health Services Administration, 70% of people source their prescription drugs from a friend or relative.
• The second most commonly abused drug by teens is prescription pills.
• Admission to addiction treatment for prescription drug abuse has increased an astounding 400% between 1998 and 2008.
• As prescription drugs have become something of an epidemic, the number of people seeking treatment for their use has increased drastically.
• The non-benzodiazepines are used as a short-term remedy for sleeping problems. These drugs, which include zolpidem (Ambien), eszopiclone (Lunesta), and zaleplon (Sonata), can also foster chronic use due to rebound insomnia.
• Prescription drugs are abused most in rural areas.
• Prescription painkillers have increased the number of unintentional deaths across the United States. Between 1999 and 2007, there have been 28,000 deaths as a result of unintentional prescription drug poisoning.
• Over 100,000 people are hospitalised each year for overdosing on prescription drugs such as lorazepam (Ativan), alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), or triazolam (Halcion).
• Statistics from the National Institute of Drug Abuse show that one out of every 15 people who take prescription painkillers for recreational use will try heroin within 10 years.
• People who are prescribed pain medication in high doses are at a greater risk of death.
• 60% of young adults who abuse prescription drugs tried them before the age of 18.
• Cough suppressants that containing dextromethorphan (DXM) can be addictive; ingesting large quantities can cause altered time perception, distorted awareness and hallucinations.
• Barbiturates are an older (but highly abused) class of prescription drugs. An overdose can be fatal, especially when mixed with alcohol or opiates.
• Three out of every ten teenagers do not think prescription drugs are addictive.
• Prescription drugs are just as (or more) addictive then any illegal street drug or even alcohol.
• It’s easy to overdose from prescription painkillers alone. Often, people combine prescription drugs with alcohol, which increases the chance of an overdose.

Teen Statistics

Prescription painkillers are the substances most abused by teens after alcohol, marijuana and tobacco. ADHD medication (Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta), tranquilisers and sedatives (Klonopin, Xanax, Valium), as well as opioid painkillers (Percocet, OxyContin, Percodan, Vicodin,) are also prescription medications frequently abused by teens.

Generally, teenagers feel that abusing prescription medication is less dangerous than taking street drugs. This isn’t actually true, as painkiller abuse can prove to be extremely dangerous and sometimes result in deadly consequences.

Five of the 12 drugs that were surveyed amongst high school seniors were prescription drugs. The main prescription drugs abused by teens included stimulants like Adderall, tranquilisers, opioids like Vicodin, sedatives and cough medicines.

10 Myths and Lies told about Painkillers

There are a number of myths and lies surrounding the use of painkillers. The most common include:

• Only hard drugs are dangerous: Certain drugs (such as heroin and cocaine) are known for their powerful and highly addictive nature. However, they are not the only dangerous substances. Even medications with a low risk of addiction can cause mental and physical health problems, depending on how they are used.
• You cannot be addicted to a prescribed medication: It’s quite common to believe that all drugs prescribed by your doctor are completely safe and impossible to result in addiction. This is wrong, as many prescribed medications are extremely potent and have a high potential for addiction.
• There are no long-term consequences.
• Pain medication can cure your pain: Physical or mental pain cannot be ‘cured’ by pain medications. These drugs simply mask your symptoms and make them easier to cope with.
• Painkillers should be avoided altogether: Painkillers provide an effective method to treat pain resulting from injuries. They should therefore be used cautiously, instead of being avoided completely.
• Addicts can quit using painkillers whenever they wish.
• Everyone who uses painkillers becomes addicted: Developing an addiction to any drug depends on your personal risk of addiction. It’s therefore incorrect to believe that just because you take a prescription painkiller, you’ll become addicted.
• The more you take, the better they work: when it comes to taking painkillers, more does not always mean better. Tolerance can develop after prolonged use and worsen the pain.
• You can’t become addicted if you have a medical reason for taking painkillers.
• There is nothing friends or family can do to help: While you can’t force an addicted person to quit, there are many methods you can use to improve the situation.

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