Pain Medication Addiction
Pain medication can be a true lifesaver during tough moments of crisis, offering both relief from physical discomfort and a delightful sense of well-being. When used responsibly and for a short time, it plays a crucial role in managing pain effectively. However, it’s important to be aware of the potential downsides—extended use might lead to dependency. By staying informed and using these medications wisely, we can enjoy the benefits while minimizing risks.
What Is Pain Medication Addiction?
Pain medications, also known as painkillers, are highly addictive substances. They interact with the brain opioid receptors of an individual, attaching to the receptors and creating a surge of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that signals a person’s body to feel pleasure, which is recorded in the brain’s reward system. When an individual takes pain medication, it does two things. Firstly, it depresses the central nervous system of the person, preventing the transmission of pain signals to the brain. Secondly, it attaches to the opiate receptors in the person, blocking the pain signals.
With continued use of pain medication, the neurotransmitters in the brain become altered, which leads to drug dependence. With extended use, the body of the person requires higher doses more frequently to satisfy its physiological demands. As a result, dependence and addiction, or a pain medication addiction, can develop within weeks.
What Are The Long-Term Effects Of Pain Medication Addiction?
When a person takes pain medication for a long time, they prevent their body from achieving pain relief naturally. These medications interfere with releasing the “feel-good” chemicals in the brain of the individual because they trick the brain that they need the drugs to feel good. This frequent use of pain pills affects the central nervous system.
For instance, opiate pain medications depress the central nervous system by blocking pain. This can result in slow bodily reactions, slow breathing rates, and slurred speech.
The effects of pain medications are limited to the central nervous system and the person’s body’s natural ability to relieve pain. This implies that the effects of pain medication use are felt throughout the body. For instance, chronic intake of pain medication can result in life-threatening liver damage because the liver stores the toxins that emanate from the breakdown of these drugs.
Some people inject pain medications directly into their bloodstream to achieve an immediate effect. Such medications enter directly into the body and can affect the heart. Long-term use of these medications can cause serious cardiovascular problems, heart disease, and heart attack. Additionally, injecting painkillers into their body, especially opioids, using unsterilized needles can result in blood infections and collapsed veins.
More so, these drugs also affect the stomach and intestines. Excessive use of pain pills can result in abdominal distention, constipation, bowel obstructions, bloating, and hemorrhoids.
Withdrawal Symptoms Of Pain Medication Addiction
Even when an individual admits they are struggling with abusing pain medication, getting off the drugs becomes difficult. For example, a person may decide to stop taking painkillers, but they experience mild to severe withdrawal symptoms that deter their efforts. Common withdrawal symptoms include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Irritability or nervousness
- Insomnia
- Muscle aches
- High blood pressure
- Seizures
- Serious Cravings
For this reason, a person who wants to stop using pain medications should get help from a pain medication addiction treatment program like Q Space Detox.
Common Signs Of Pain Medication Addiction
Addiction to pain medication does not just happen overnight. It is a gradual process that usually starts with developing a tolerance. This implies that the body has become so used to metabolizing the drug that to feel the same pain-relieving effects, the individual would have to take a higher dose of the substance. Tolerance is usually the first sign of a growing risk of addiction to pain medication. Other common symptoms of pain medication addiction include:
- Taking more of the pain medication than was originally prescribed so as to achieve a more intense effect.
- Having withdrawal symptoms when the individual misses a dose or tries to stop taking the painkiller
- Experiencing mood swings
- Reaching out to different doctors for the purpose of filling multiple pain medications
- Taking a painkiller that was prescribed for another person
- Withdrawing from family members, friends, loved ones, gatherings, or other experiences the individual once enjoyed
- Having several physical changes, such as dilated pupils, nausea, or vomiting. Sometimes, they may look unkempt.
- Struggling with symptoms of depression or anxiety, especially if the individual has never had a mental health condition.
Treatment For Pain Medication Addiction
Fortunately, there is expert support and treatment available to help people who have developed a pain medication addiction. Here is what you can expect in treatment for this addiction:
- Withdrawal management: The recovery journey for painkiller addiction starts with withdrawal management. Throughout the withdrawal process, symptoms are closely observed and reduced by the support of a medical detox team.
- Medication Supported Recovery (MSR): MSR is an additional treatment element in which medications like buprenorphine and others are used to ease cravings and minimize withdrawal discomfort.
- Individual Psychotherapy: Individual psychotherapy is another treatment used for pain medication addiction. During these therapy sessions, the therapist guides the individual toward identifying factors that may be driving the pain medication addiction. The therapy can guide individuals in shifting disordered thought and behavior patterns toward healthy, productive ones.
- Group Counseling: Having the support of other people in recovery is an important aspect of pain medication addiction treatment. Group therapy provides an opportunity for the individual to connect with other people on a deeper level by sharing their personal experiences and struggles.
- Complementary Therapies: These include meditation, yoga, and art therapy. These activities can augment the clinical results and improve the individual’s recovery success rates.
It's Time To Seek Help
If you have an LGBTQ+ loved one who has a painkiller addiction and needs help getting treatment, contact Q Space Detox at 305-745-7768, or contact us online. Let our caring specialists guide you or your loved one toward the path of recovery through our comprehensive rehab program. Our addiction treatment program can help you or your LGBTQ+ loved one get on the road to recovery.
Signs of pain medication addiction include increased mood swings, denial of addiction, and noticeable changes in appearance and behavior. LGBTQ+ individuals might also engage in risky behaviors, like seeking painkillers from unregulated sources or taking larger doses. These signs often come with a decline in work performance, neglect of responsibilities, and withdrawal from social interactions.
There are many treatment options available for LGBTQ+ individuals struggling with pain medication addiction. These include medication-assisted treatment (MAT), individual therapy, group counseling, and complementary therapies like yoga and art therapy. It's important to find treatment centers that are welcoming and cater specifically to the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals.
Don't Let Addiction Control Your Life Any Longer!
Begin your journey towards a brighter tomorrow by calling Q Space Detox today! Our team is committed to supporting you as you embark on the path towards becoming a successful and thriving member of the LGBTQ community.