It is possible to confuse addiction with habit or just causal liking towards a drug or a substance. There is a very thin line to mark the difference between the two however, addiction is a much severe condition and is classified under chronic dysfunction of the brain system that involves reward, motivation, and memory. It’s all about how your body desires a substance or action, particularly if it leads to a compulsive or obsessive pursuit of “reward” with little regard for the consequences. One can also look for symptoms of addiction suggested by expert rehabs in India.
Individuals can be addicted to various substances such as drugs, alcohol and prescribed drugs like sleeping pills and painkillers.
How painkillers work?
Chronic pain may lead an individual to look for painkillers as they act as an instant relief from pain. Some people are concerned that narcotic medicines will lead to addiction. While these medications are intended to lessen pain sensitivity, they also produce euphoria, which some people may develop to crave. You are less likely to have a problem if your doctor provided medicine to treat your pain and you take it as directed. It is always better to know what drugs you might be taking in order to be cautious of being addicted. These are the top ten most addictive pain drugs currently accessible, according to the NIDA. The majority of these medications are used to relieve chronic pain; however others are only indicated for short-term usage.
- Fentanyl: This drug is most commonly prescribed by doctors for post-surgical pain. Commonly it is also known by nicknames such as Apache, China Girl, China White, Dance Fever, Friend, Goodfella, Jackpot, Murder 8, Tango and Cash, TNT.
- OxyCotin: this drug is prescribed as round-the-clock relief for patients suffering from moderate to severe pain expected to last for a longer period.
- Demerol: this drug is usually given with anaesthesia and is prescribed for moderate to severe pain and can be taken both orally or injectable.
- Morphine: it is usually prescribed for on-going severe to moderate pain and can be given in various forms such as injectable, oral capsule, tablet and so on.
- Methadone: it is prescribed to patients trying to quit heroin and can be used as an opiate pain reliever. It is often misused and can lead to addiction. Some street names for this drug are Amidone and Fizzies and when it is used with MDMA it is known as Chocolate Chip Cookies.
How to identify if you are addicted to painkillers?
- You spend a lot of time thinking about your medication
One of the first signals of addiction is a preoccupation with two things: when you can take your next dose and if you have enough supply.
- You switch doctors frequently and are a trap of ‘doctor shopping’
Something may have shifted once you quit working with your doctor and you try to find someone else who will write you a new prescription every time you feel an urge.
- You source drugs (painkillers) through others
This can be something like ordering drugs over, buying drugs illegally through dealers, using other peoples prescriptions to buy yours, or something as severe as hurting oneself to get admitted and get drugs.
Relief from these painkillers:
Consult the nearest:
It is important to first mark the difference between addiction and need for drugs especially painkillers. If you struggle to mark the difference it is always best to take expert advice. One can begin to identify this by consulting their family physician and he can be the best person to introduce you to an addiction specialist.
Appoint a decision maker:
While it is important to consult an expert, it can be confusing and difficult if the patient is involuntary to seek treatment. At such times deciding who will take initial steps can prove to be beneficial. This can be a close friend or a family member close to enough to the patient that he agrees to hear them out.
Be mindful:
While one may be dedicated towards intervention voluntarily, it is possible that so much dedication may lead to feeling less satisfied. As addiction develops over a period of time, recovery also takes a while and one must be mindful of this time period required for recovery.
Observe you expectation:
You might do extremely well during your treatment but it is important to not expect this to last forever. Relapse is that part of the process that no one talks about but very important to deal with. One must continue to follow up even post discharge from a rehab and seek admission again if required.
Seek help:
Best rehabs in India offer treatments for addictions of such sort. Veda rehab and wellness (current blog) is one of the leading rehabs in India offering treatments for addiction. These experts at Veda rehab have various modes of treatment such as through psychotherapy, mindfulness and habit building exercises that help you recover and continue on the journey of intervention.
Written by:
Shaili Mehta
Veda Rehab and Wellness