Painkiller Addiction Treatment

Painkillers are prescribed to help people manage both moderate pain, for fairly common reasons such as migraines, as well as more chronic conditions. Some milder painkillers are available without a prescription and are widely used, but some are classed as narcotics and become highly addictive if abused.

Providing all medication is used as directed, the patient should have no problems with addiction when taking painkillers, but if the quantity or strength is exceeded the effects can be profound and dangerous.

When pain is relieved by particularly strong painkillers, the patient experiences a kind of euphoria. The body becomes used to this very quickly so higher and higher doses are required to experience the same satisfaction. For some, the pain of their condition is so severe that they want to numb themselves completely, and so they willingly exceeding the recommended dose.

Many painkillers, particularly the ones with addictive properties, are derived from opium. Opiates are known for causing overdoses and even death. Painkillers containing opioids are also likely to damage multiple organs in the body, including the liver, kidneys, heart and intestines, when used long-term and in excess. Paranoia and depression are also likely, as well as decreased cognitive function.

Some painkiller addicts find themselves going to increasingly risky lengths even to source the medication they need, which invites various financial and social problems into their life. Associating with drug dealers, putting themselves in increasingly dangerous positions and even borrowing money to feed their habit, can shorten their lives significantly in a variety of ways.

Kicking a painkiller habit for good can involve going through opioid withdrawal. The symptoms of opiate withdrawal:

One of the reasons so many struggle to stop taking opiates, whether they’re prescription or illegal, is the sheer unpleasantness of the withdrawal process. It can last for anything from a day to weeks, causes extreme physical discomfort and is often treated with other medications to make it more bearable.

After painkiller withdrawal treatment, the individual is likely to continue to experience profound cravings even after complete detox. During times of stress, and when they are reminded of how amazing the drug used to make them feel (often through social situations), people are pushed back towards prescription painkillers. Effective painkiller addiction treatment often requires maintenance therapy and drugs such as methadone. Many find that they can return to work and function normally in society when taking methadone, and it stops their cravings for painkillers.

Narcotics Anonymous, modeled on Alcoholics Anonymous, uses the same 12-step recovery program, and many recovering addicts have found this model to be particularly helpful. Other one-to-one therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can also help.