Oh, I don't know. There's certainly a "high" to many painkillers, making it more than just withdrawal pain-avoidance, IMO - I had surgery some years ago, and Demerol was part of the post-op pain treatment. And I assure you, that stuff will
definitely get you off if you're so inclined - yes, the pain goes away, but you also feel nice and dreamy and shiny and happy and floaty. It's good stuff - not that I'm interested, now or then, in taking up a recreational Demerol habit, you understand ;)
At some point in the painkiller-addition track, one of two things happens - either the dosage begins to exceed the amount necessary to for the amount of pain, or the pain goes away but the drugs don't. And it's at that point that you're not taking it for pain, but for other reasons, the avoidance of withdrawal being only one.
At some point in the painkiller-addition track, one of two things happens - either the dosage begins to exceed the amount necessary to for the amount of pain, or the pain goes away but the drugs don't.
You forgot about a third, the pain doesn't go away, or worse the pain gets worse. Rush still has the back pain. He is going to have to live with the pain, find a differant drug, try surgery again, or that electro therapy thingy.