Painkillers can both improve lives and steal them. When used correctly, they can improve the lives of people with both acute and chronic pain. However, abusing these substances contributes to the development of many effects of painkiller abuse. Since these drugs are often legal to obtain, identifying a problem in yourself or someone else becomes more difficult. But, just as with any other substance, abusing painkillers requires getting support from a professional treatment team at a recovery center. At Bayview Recovery, we want to help you overcome your addiction to painkillers. For more information about our treatment programs, contact our team today at 855.478.3650.
Signs of Painkiller Abuse
Prescription painkiller abuse often involves opioids such as morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. On the one hand, these drugs are readily available from doctors to treat those with severe pain. On the other hand, people who use them for treating pain may become addicted to them through their use. Consequently, the addictive nature of painkillers makes people willing to do anything to get them, including breaking the law or lying to doctors.
If you or a loved one uses painkillers, watch out for the signs that the prescribed use of the drugs has progressed to abuse, including:
- Taking more than the prescribed dose or taking the painkillers more often
- Losing prescriptions or requesting refills early
- Going to multiple doctors for prescriptions
- Lying about painkiller intake
While these signs of painkiller abuse may occur in those who struggle, they are only actions taken by people with a drug addiction problem. But, these acts reflect the mental changes that happen from overuse of painkillers. The effects of painkiller abuse include the changes to the body and mind these drugs cause.
Effects of Painkiller Abuse
The impacts of painkiller abuse get worse over time. Thus, the more often you use painkillers and the higher the doses you take, the greater the chances that you will have more severe effects. For instance, you may feel relief from pain and a drowsy, joyful feeling at low prescription doses. However, if you use too much, your breathing could slow enough to cause brain damage.
Long-term impacts of painkiller abuse include increased feelings of pain, severe constipation, poor decision making, difficulty concentrating, and coma. Additionally, as you become more addicted to painkillers, you need to take higher doses to get the same euphoric feelings. However, taking more medicine raises the chances of overdose, coma, and death.
Over time, the more painkillers you use, you raise the chances of having severe withdrawal symptoms such as bone pain, cravings, leg spasms, and cold flashes.
Treatment for the Drug Abuse of Painkillers
Treating drug abuse from painkillers requires a combined effort to address the health of the body and mind. Psychotherapy sessions use evidence-based methods to help those who use drugs to change their thinking to become recovery-minded. Group sessions allow those in a recovery facility to talk to others and get peer support and recovery tips. Other types of painkiller abuse treatment you can find at Bayview Recovery include the following:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Yoga therapy
- Life skills training program
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment program
To get the most out of these treatment options and overcome the effects of painkiller abuse, you must work with the program toward recovery. However, the effort you put into overcoming addiction can bring you into a life that doesn’t revolve around painkiller use.
Connect with Bayview Recovery
Addiction to prescription medications impacts the lives of people around the world. Both those who abuse the drugs and their friends and family feel the effects of painkiller abuse. Stop the abuse now by contacting us at Bayview Recovery at 855.478.3650. Our treatment facility in the beautiful Northwestern United States offers several drug abuse treatment programs and levels of care to help you surmount your painkiller problem and embrace the freedom of recovery.
