Prescription Pain Medication Addiction

Most people who are prescribed pain medication by a doctor take it initially for reasons such as easing post-surgery discomfort or dealing with pain related to diseases such as cancer or Crohn’s disease. The fact that prescription painkillers work well to relieve pain with little effort makes them the first pain management choice for many people. Rather than exploring alternate ways of managing pain, which can take work and may not immediately eliminate pain to the same extent as painkillers, many people tend to reach for the prescription pill bottle each time pain relief is required. The ease of use and effectiveness that painkillers bring may lead some to reach for these drugs more often than is safe or necessary, which is often how prescription pill addictions are born.

Ling, Mooney, and Hillhouse (2011) describe how the use of opioids other than as prescribed can take several forms: misuse, abuse or dependence. Physiological dependence (or addiction) involves the presence of tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. Increased rates of substance use disorders are well documented in long-term prescription opioid users relative to individuals who do not use prescription opioids.

Although opioid painkillers are legal when prescribed by a physician, they are chemically similar to illicit drugs such as heroin. Such painkillers cause chemical changes in the brain, affecting areas of the brain that deal with cognition, learning and memory. Painkiller use and abuse can also affect nerve cells and can cause long-term heart and liver damage (Perkinson, 2012).

If you or someone you know is suffering from a substance addiction, a counsellor can help. At Allegro Counselling, we can work with you to create a treatment plan that fits your needs; we provide addiction counselling, education and resources.

References
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Ling, W., Mooney, L., & Hillhouse, M. (2011). Prescription opioid abuse, pain and addiction: Clinical issues and implications. Drug & Alcohol Review, 30(3), 300-305. doi:10.1111/j.1465-3362.2010.00271.x

Perkinson, R. (2012). Chemical dependency counseling: A practical guide (4th ed). Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications.