When Prescription Becomes Addiction

ASCS ^

[DBCJR]

How do I know when a prescription becomes an addiction? This is a critical question.

Many Oklahomans have a legitimate need for prescription painkillers for the relief of pain from surgery or an injury. Unfortunately, even legitimate reliance on medication can easily and unintentionally turn into physical dependence.

That can be confusing, as the medications ARE prescribed by a doctor, so doesn’t that mean that they are needed and safe to use? Alarmingly, the most commonly prescribed drugs including OxyContin, Vicodin, hydrocodne, hydrocodone, Darvocet, Lortab, Lorcet and Percocet can cause one to start "needing" the drugs in order to feel normal, or keep from getting sick, at the same time they offer relief from pain.

That is called addiction, whether prescribed or not. Addiction is an obsessive compulsive behavior:

They become obsessed meaning it controls their thinking and focus. It becomes compulsive, meaning they MUST get the drug regardless of what it costs in terms of money, time, and relationships.

Addiction is progressive, meaning it is hard to distinguish from legitimate need at first, then gradually builds in its intensity and control of one’s life. At the same time the denial , associated with addiction, is developing making it hard for the addict to see, and often for those who love them as well. By the time addiction reveals itself it often has the addict firmly in its clutches. Early detection and intervention lessens the progression of the addiction and the damage it causes.

Here are some symptoms to consider if you think someone you know may be experiencing a dependency on these drugs.

1. Usage Increase - Over time, it is common for individuals taking prescription medications to have increased tolerance to the effects of their prescribed medication dose. That means it takes more and more of the drug to produce the same effect. Increased tolerance indicates the person will also have increased withdrawal symptoms when they quit the medication. That is physical addiction to the drug. This symptom can be seen by the following signs:

badgering the doctor to continue their medication past the prescribed period, taking more medication or at a rate quicker than prescribed, pressuring their doctor for higher and higher doses, or going to more than one doctor to get more of the drug.

2. Change in Personality – While there may be other explanations, changes in a person's normal behavior can be a sign of dependency. Energy level, mood, and concentration changes may may signal every day responsibilities become secondary to the need for the relief the prescription provides and the psychological escape it offers. Opiate drugs affect the brain in a way that heightens one’s perception of pain, both physical and emotional. They may become less tolerant of the stress of everyday life and neglect schoolwork, parenting, or job responsibilities.

3. Social Withdrawal – Withdrawal from family, friends and other social interaction may result as they become more focused upon their drug, obtaining it, and avoiding negative feedback about it and/or the stress of social interaction. Initially, they may tend to hang out with people who share their growing obsession with the drug. The commonality that forms the basis of their relationship may be sharing contacts for doctor-shopping or street drugs. As the addiction progresses, the obsession with securing a supply of the drug and finding sources narrows their social circle to those people who use at the level they use and know how to get that quantity of drugs. By the time you detect this pattern of behavior they are likely using a far greater amount than you are aware.

4. Ongoing Use – Wanting refills after a medical condition has improved can be a sign of a forming addiction. They may say they are "still feeling pain" and need just a little longer on the medication in order to get well. Frequent complaints about doctors who refuse to write the prescription, looking for other doctors, or being fired or referred by a doctor could be signs. The addict may actually be experiencing pain as opiates numb pain receptors and chronic use can create a chronic hypersensitivity, meaning they have an enhanced perception of pain. Many opiate addicts, who had no chronic pain problem before, develop one during their addiction because of the effects of opiates on the brain.

5. Time/Effort Spent on Maintaining Supply – An addict will spend large amounts of time searching, driving great distances, and visiting multiple doctors to obtain the drugs. This is a result of a preoccupation with securing their needed supply of the drug, demonstrating that the drug has become their top priority.

6. Decline in Appearance and Hygiene – As the addiction becomes their focus less attention is placed on other things that previously were considered important, like appearance and self-care. The opiate, a central nervous system depressant, bombards the brain daily also causing a chemically induced depressive state that lowers motivation. Pupils may be constricted, smaller. They may itch and scratch frequently.

7. Decline in Health – Sleeping habits may change as a result of a lack of energy and tiredness. They may nod a lot, fighting sleep. Eating habits may also change as opiates often affect one’s gastrointestinal system. While using, the addict will tend toward constipation. During the ascending high they may become nauseated. In withdrawals they may tend toward diarrhea. and a person may have a constant cough, runny nose and red, glazed eyes.

8. Neglects Responsibilities - A dependent person may call in sick to work more often, and neglect household chores and bills.

9. Increased Sensitivity - Normal sights, sounds and emotions might become overly stimulating to the person. Hallucinations, although perhaps difficult to monitor, may occur as well.

10. Blackouts and Forgetfulness – A definite sign of dependence is when the person regularly forgets events that have taken place and appears to be suffering blackouts.

11. Defensiveness - When the addict feels their addiction is being threatened, even subcosciously, they can become very defensive. Just being discovered is considered a threat as, if they acknowledge the addiction, they may feel like they will be pressured to do something about it. So, a type of defensiveness called denial develops. Subconsciously, they head off awareness by minimizing, blame-shifting, etc. They might even react to simple requests or questions by lashing out.

Prescriptions to painkiller medication can be safe when taken as prescribed and are carefully monitored. However, it is important to recognize that, even when prescribed, opiates can be dangerous. Addiction is a disease that can develop even in the most cautious person. Therefore, anyone who is prescribed pain medications should take extra precautions to avoid the developing a dependency. Watch for these symptoms.

If you see a few of the above symptoms come by http://ascs-okc.com to find out more or call 405-672-3033.

[GailA]

If the drug companies waited on me to purchase their side effect riddled crap, they’d go broke. I take extra Strength Tylenol...even after major surgery. Always get an RX for 10 demarol, but rarely take more than 2. Side effects are not worth it.

And as I have FMS and PN and the back from Hades, I live in pain 24/7/365, they can keep their side effect riddled Lyrica too.

Find bio feed back works better, and then I talk a lot to GOD.

[In Maryland]

Yes the author of the article and the OP (who I suspect are the same person) seem to have a bit of tunnel vision. The problem of a self-destructive out-of-control use of pain killers is a real one (and I don’t contest Carmom’s experience in the least), but there are many, many patients who use painkillers as prescribed. The OP doesn’t seem to realize that creating a “Reefer Madness” hysteria will likely lead to additional government intervention and persecution of responsible users.