An Overview of Painkiller Addiction
Drug abuse is a problem of epidemic proportions in the United States, and tens of thousands of Americans die of a drug overdose every year. In many cases, overdose happens as a result of a drug addiction, in particular prescription painkiller addiction.
List of Painkillers
There are many different painkillers on the market. Some of the most common and well-known include:
- Opioids
- Opiates
- Barbiturates
- Oxycodone
- Morphine
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphone
- Fentanyl
- Dilaudid
- Opana
- Oxycontin
- Opium
Painkiller Addiction and Overdose Rates
Medical science has helped us develop many drugs that are successful in treating chronic pain. Unfortunately, these drugs have also opened the door to the problem of painkiller addiction.
In the United States each year, overdoses related to pain pill addiction now occur more frequently than overdoses related to heroin or cocaine addictions. Nationwide, addiction to painkillers is high even among teenagers, and rural communities have been hit particularly hard.
If you or someone you love has an addiction to painkillers, it is important that you get individualized treatment as soon as possible so that the problem does not end in an overdose.
Painkiller Addiction Signs
Identifying whether or not a person is addicted to painkillers depends on knowing and recognizing the signs of addiction. The most frequent signs of an addiction to pain pills tend to be behavioral in nature.
Those who are addicted to pain pills will often engage in a process known as doctor-shopping. This means that they keep changing doctors or that they will visit several different doctors so they can obtain multiple prescriptions for painkillers. People who frequently visit the emergency room looking for painkillers may also be addicts who need professional addiction counseling and treatment.
Money problems are also common when people are addicted to pain medications, as addiction sufferers will spend all of their money to get more of the drug. Some addiction sufferers may even invade the medicine cabinets of friends and family in order to find pills.
Other signs of painkiller addiction include:
- Changes in behavior or routine
- Hanging around a different crowd
- Mood swings
- Tiredness
- Seeming “vacant”
- Increased secrecy
- Changes in wardrobe, in particular clothes with sleeves
- Nosebleeds
- Trackmarks
- Failure to meet personal, professional, or familial responsibilities
Painkiller Addiction Treatment Can Help
A painkiller addiction can happen to any of us, and getting help should be a priority for you if you have a problem.
At BetterAddictionCare, our recovery network includes many traditional and alternative rehab programs that feature cost-effective, medically supervised treatment. We will maintain confidentiality and work with your insurance to help you get the best treatment for your needs.
Contact us today and we will do our best to make sure you get help now.
