People are forced to cope with pain all the time. There are numerous reasons someone might have moderate to severe pain that requires relief—an injury, surgery, or other chronic condition. Many people wonder, “Can you be addicted to painkillers?” Prescription painkillers like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine are opioids that are indeed addictive. Does this mean doctors should not prescribe opioids for pain? Not at all. However, being alert to the possible risks is critical to avoid becoming tolerant, dependent, or addicted. If you or someone you know shows signs of prescription opioid addiction, a painkiller recovery program is the safest and most reliable path toward health and recovery.
At Insight Recovery Center in Asheville, NC, we offer a high level of care for people seeking to stop misusing painkillers. If you are concerned about painkiller addiction and want to understand the risks, reach out to our team of professionals.
Can you be addicted to painkillers?
Prescription opioids, even when taken as prescribed, can lead to dependence and addiction. Certain risk factors may make addiction more likely. They are:
- Taking the medication not as instructed: Doing so constitutes abuse and can lead to addiction. It may involve taking more than prescribed or more often. It also can mean taking a prescription that was not written for you or acquiring the painkiller illicitly.
- Taking painkillers over a long period of time: The longer you rely on a prescription painkiller, the more at risk you are of becoming addicted.
- The presence of contributing factors: Some people are more susceptible to addiction if they have a genetic predisposition, a mental health issue that is masked by opioid use, or environmental or psychosocial factors that increase the risk of addiction.
It is not always possible to know in advance if you have some of the contributing risk factors. Even those who do not can become tolerant and dependent on painkillers.
How to recognize painkiller abuse and addiction
There are signs to look out for if you wonder about your painkiller use or that of a loved one. Needing painkillers is not a sign of abuse. Pain needs to be managed, and there is no shame in that. Talk to your doctor about the prescribed medication. Ask if you need something of that potency, what the risks of addiction are, and how long it is safe to take it.
If you are taking someone else’s medication or have increased your own dosage without medical advice, you are definitely abusing the drug.
But how do you know if abuse has become an opioid use disorder (OUD)? Below are three signs you may be addicted to painkillers.
You can’t dial it back
Let’s say you increased your dose or started taking your pain medication more than you are supposed to, then decide to return to the prescribed schedule and dosage. You find that you are unable to do so without experiencing discomfort. Tolerance of the old dosage has led to a problem.
You put up with negative consequences
If you realize that your painkiller abuse has begun to have a negative impact on your mental or physical health, relationships, professional life, or finances, and yet you cannot stop, that may indicate you have an OUD.
You experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop
Withdrawal when the drug is not available is a definitive sign of dependence and/or addiction. If you experience physical symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or tremors or psychological effects such as anxiety, these are indicative of withdrawal. Intense cravings, both physical and psychological, are universally experienced during withdrawal.
You are not alone in struggling with opioid misuse—thousands of others in the U.S. find themselves in the same predicament. Like them, you deserve to live free of dependence on any drug. Professional treatment centers, like Insight Recovery Center, offer rehab and recovery programs tailored to the needs of the individual.
Call Insight Recovery Center to begin recovery from painkiller addiction today
The importance of identifying addiction or misuse early to prevent long-term effects cannot be understated. At Insight Recovery Center, we provide numerous evidence-based therapies in a secure setting. We offer a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and additional outpatient programs with evidence-based therapies and holistic approaches to help you or a loved one break the cycle of addiction and discover recovery.
Call 828.826.1376 today or submit this form with questions or to schedule an appointment.