Prescription drug abuse has been a growing epidemic in today’s society. More and more people are being hooked on the effects of these drugs where they will regularly take them every day or even multiple times a day. Drug abuse from these substances can go unnoticed due to the fact that they actually were taken to serve a purpose, usually given by medical professionals to treat physical or mental ailments. However, many people continue to take them even after their ailments are relatively cured. You do not need to suffer painkiller addiction alone. We are here to help you start your recovery journey.
This article will talk about why people can’t seem to stop using prescription drugs. It will go over why this condition begins to develop in the first place. How you can notice if you prescription drugs yourself, painkiller addiction symptoms that keep you hooked, and ways in which it can be treated. If you or you know someone who is abusing prescription drugs, please get help immediately and call an addiction recovery specialist at 405-583-4390.
Developing a Prescription Drug Addiction
Painkillers are a major component of prescription drugs. They help ease physical ailments a person may have as mentioned before. More specifically, a person may have surgery and have painkillers to mediate the pain. These painkillers can not only help them combat the pain but they also have effects on how they feel mentally as well. Prescription drugs can alter the brain chemistry of a person, releasing endorphins or feel good chemicals, essentially creating a high for them. A person’s well being can drastically change, even them changing into an entirely different person compared to their sober selves. When the prescription drugs start to wear off, a person will want to get back those feelings again. This is exactly the point where a person will start to develop an addiction to prescription drugs.
People who take any sort of prescription drugs are at risk of developing an addiction according to the medical community. What makes matters worse is prescription drugs are legal, similar to that of alcohol where it is available almost everywhere. Those who get painkillers will soon begin developing a tolerance to the drug. They will also want to get a higher dosage of said drug. Having a higher dosage will only increase the craving of the drug the person has. Medical professionals are aware of that fact, so ultimately they will reject a higher dosage. Unfortunately, they may have an uncontrollable urge to get those drugs and may resort to stealing other people’s prescriptions or have them take on other substances such as heroin. A person may develop a prescription drug addiction just by simply trying them out. However, they don’t particularly need a reason to take them.
Prescription Drug Abuse Indicators
There are many signs of prescription drug abuse that can help a person know if they may have or are beginning to develop one. For some people it can be quite hard to tell if they have an addiction, it often takes a person to be as objective as they can about the situation for them to come to that realization. To make it easier there are lists of mental and behavioral patterns that have occurred with those with prescription addiction. For instance, here is a list of mental patterns you may find yourself exhibiting:
- Thinking about drugs a lot.
- The thought of running out of drugs makes you anxious.
- Believing that you won’t be able to have a good time or fit in without the use of your drugs.
- Becoming angry or hostile if you haven’t been able to take your drugs.
Here is a list of behavioral patterns you may find yourself exhibiting:
- Neglecting your daily activities, such as duties in work, or school.
- Stealing money or drugs to continue your habit.
- Losing out on relationships due to your drug use.
- Getting into legal trouble or ending up in the hospital because of your drug addiction.
If you find that you are experiencing these issues then you most likely have an addiction. If you need even further verification on if you have problems with your addiction, simply reach out and speak to those around you who will be able to give you a more honest answer. Remember, if you realize you have an addiction to your prescription drugs, all it means is that you need help. It doesn’t mean that you are a bad person or a weak person. Taking the step to treatment is one of the strongest things a person can do.
Why You Can’t Live Without Pain Meds
The symptoms associated with painkiller addiction is what keeps you hooked. They make you unable to live without the addiction. Over time, when a person takes pain medication the body slows its production of endorphins. When the body stops triggering these endorphins on their own, it can cause devastating effects on the individual. The person may not be able to feel good on their own anymore and will have to resort to the drugs, this is dependence. It is also easy to gain tolerance to painkillers to the point that they will start to ask for a higher dosage from their doctors as mentioned before. The effects people experience are euphoric, which helps them better deal with negative external factors in their life. Those external factors can be, stress/anxiety, depression, personality disorders, loneliness, etc. These self-medication approaches to their problems only make matters worse.
Even if a person tries their best efforts to stop their painkiller addiction on their own they will develop severe withdrawals. Some of these withdrawals could include muscle and bone pain, sleep problems, diarrhea and vomiting, cold flashes and goosebumps, uncontrollable leg movements, and intense cravings. These withdrawals will often make the person run back to their prescription drug if they try to take their addiction on their own. It’s worth noting that these withdrawals can appear a few hours after the last drug dose. People who experience these withdrawals can potentially end up using more than their recommended dose because of how extreme they can be.
These symptomatic effects of prescription drugs take hold of many people every year, so if you feel that you cannot escape a grasp, you are not alone. It is essential to get these painkiller addiction treatment with a professional team of experts.
How To Treat Prescription Drug Abuse
To treat painkiller addiction will take a team of trained professionals. The way these professionals treat prescription drug abuse is by using behavior treatment and medications. Behavioral treatment is where people are able to understand their addiction, and learn ways to live a life without them. Addicts learn healthy ways to break their cycle of negative thinking and behavior. They will be taught strategies to help their cravings and how to manage if they find themselves in a situation that can trigger their usage. Behavior treatment can come in a variety of ways, effective behavior treatment will include: individual therapy, family therapy, or group therapy.
Individual therapy helps the person set goals, and are able to share personal concerns they’ve been feeling. Family therapy is a place where the addict and those close to them will be able to build a healthy relationship with each other. In group therapy, it allows you to connect with others who have an addiction and hear about their own struggles. It is a way for the person to know that they are not the only person struggling with addiction. These therapies are designed to help the individual, improve their relationships around them, and also help them function in their professional life.
Prescription medicine addiction can also be treated by medications. Some of those medications are buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone, which are designed to prevent prescription drugs from affecting the brain. They also help relieve the symptoms associated with withdrawals and cravings, which will help the patient avoid relapse. This is done usually after a detox, where medical professionals will flush out any and all substances from an addict’s body. Medication is not necessarily given to everyone who experiences detox treatment but if the person experiences severe withdrawals they will be given medication.
You Can Be Free
You can start living without your pain medication, even if you feel like you can’t. There are millions of people right now suffering from painkiller addiction, and many of them are overdosing. Don’t let this happen to you, treatment is available. Treatment can start at any time and it is best if you begin as soon as possible. It may be difficult to realize that you in fact have an addiction problem, but remember it doesn’t make you any less of a human being. What you will get out of rehab will be nothing but valuable information on how you can lead a happy and healthy life.
Using drugs at this point in time may make you feel good, but there is nothing like the feeling of recovery. The staff at a rehab facility are eager to help you and will provide nothing but compassionate care. If you are ready to finally put down your pain medication and are looking for help, please call 405-583-4390 to speak to an addiction specialist.
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Sources
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/in-depth/how-opioid-addiction-occurs/art-20360372
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/misuse-prescription-drugs/how-can-prescription-drug-addiction-be-treated
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/step-by-step-guides-to-finding-treatment-drug-use-disorders/if-you-have-problem-drugs-adults/how-to-recognize-substance-use-disorder
- https://medlineplus.gov/opioidmisuseandaddictiontreatment.html
- https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-opioids
