Almost 10 million Americans misuse prescription painkillers. Painkiller addiction effects can be tremendously disruptive and have a devastating impact on many aspects of life. There are many short-term and long-term consequences of the opioid epidemic for individuals, families, and communities.
If you or someone you care about is struggling, consider a painkiller addiction clinic in NC. Insight Recovery Center in Asheville is here to help you or a loved one find recovery.
Short-term painkiller addiction effects
Abuse of painkillers can lead to relatively minor short-term symptoms such as:
- Stomach pain
- Back pain
- Headache
- Tremors
- Sleep dysfunction
However, more severe short-term effects may include:
- Heart palpitations
- Agitation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Suppressed breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Confusion
- Hallucinations
These effects are warning signs that you are misusing painkillers. Some of them, such as breathing problems, can signal an impending overdose.
Long-term painkiller addiction effects
After prolonged abuse of prescription painkillers, some of the effects could be permanent. A few of the long-term effects of painkillers are:
- Bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract
- Cardiovascular events, including heart attack
- Endocrine abnormalities, including effects on the pituitary, hypothalamic, and adrenal glands
- Hypogonadism
- Amenorrhea
- Infertility
- Sexual dysfunction
- Major depressive disorder
- Chronic fatigue
Additionally, long-term opioid use can impair cognitive function, leading to difficulties in decision-making, memory retention, and emotional regulation. Relationships often suffer as trust is broken and responsibilities are neglected. Many individuals find themselves in legal or financial trouble due to the compulsive nature of addiction.
Addiction is a cycle that is very difficult to break—a merry-go-round you cannot get off. The physical dependence alone may seem insurmountable. How will you stop using if your body demands that you continue—at the risk of profound discomfort and illness? On top of that, it is often difficult to imagine how you will continue to manage the stress of life or feelings of anxiety without the support of the drug.
Although you may have begun taking painkillers for a legitimate medical reason, increased tolerance, dependence, and addiction can damage your physical and mental health. You do not have to be trapped by the disease of addiction. With support, you can recover.
Painkiller addiction treatment
It is almost impossible to recover from addiction without professional treatment. Deciding to seek rehab opens possibilities for your future for the first time in a long time.
Professional addiction treatment like that offered by Insight Recovery Center can support you through comprehensive outpatient addiction treatment that uses evidence-based therapies and holistic approaches to address addiction needs and recovery goals.
In a painkiller addiction clinic, you will have a treatment plan created by your care team as well as a clearly defined schedule to follow. Some of the items you may find on your daily rehab calendar are:
- Evidence-based treatment: The staff will be both trained and experienced in providing proven therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
- Individual therapy: In one-on-one meetings with your therapist, you will address underlying issues, better understand your addiction, and learn to have compassion for yourself. You will also address communication skills and ways to identify triggers.
- Supportive therapies: Experiential therapies such as equine or wilderness therapy, holistic therapies such as yoga, and meditative therapies add value to your entire rehab program. They empower you and help you manage stress.
- Group therapy: Guided by a licensed therapist, group therapy is ideal for working on interpersonal communication and providing the support and accountability of a group of people on the same journey.
- Family therapy: When possible, having therapy sessions with the people closest to you helps rebuild trust, heals relationships, and improves family communication. Addiction is a family disease. Everyone is affected. For healing to happen, it is wonderful to have the opportunity to learn and build empathy.
- Peer support: Support groups such as a 12-step program offer a chance to interact with others in recovery—they understand the addiction treatment and recovery process. These opportunities allow peers to share openly, support and empower one another, and learn to ask for the help they need.
You are not alone. Help and healing are available through professional treatment centers like Insight Recovery Center.
Contact Insight Recovery Center in North Carolina
Painkiller addiction can feel overwhelming, but treatment can help reverse many of its damaging effects. With the proper support, individuals can rebuild their physical and mental health, restore relationships, and regain control over their lives. Our staff at Insight Recovery Center is here to help you or a loved one navigate recovery from the beginning and guide you into a life of sobriety and enhanced well-being.
Don’t wait. Call 828.826.1376 today or use this form to connect with our staff and take the first step toward healing.