Quick Summary
- These potent drugs are specially designed to tackle severe pain, such as after a severe injury or a major surgical procedure.
- While the proper use of these drugs undoubtedly brings legitimate and favourable benefits, abusing them can also be equally dangerous and potentially addictive.
- While many people abuse painkillers for recreation and develop dependencies, many who take them precisely as prescribed also end up acquiring addiction.
Reading time: 9 min
Every year, millions of people in the UK have prescribed painkillers. These potent drugs are specially designed to tackle severe pain, such as after a severe injury or a major surgical procedure. While the proper use of these drugs undoubtedly brings legitimate and favourable benefits, abusing them can also be equally dangerous and potentially addictive.
While many people abuse painkillers for recreation and develop dependencies, many who take them precisely as prescribed also end up acquiring addiction. If you or someone you care about is abusing painkillers or is addicted to them, joining a painkiller addiction treatment rehab can be highly beneficial to overcome the negative behaviours and restart a healthy life.
FAQs
Why do people get addicted to painkillers?
The primary reason behind consuming painkillers is their ability to numb the pain. However, most people who get addicted to these medications, both legal and illegal, use them to obtain other benefits, such as feelings of relaxation, pleasure, tranquillity, and euphoria. These effects can be extremely addictive and can force them to take the painkilling medication in more and more doses until they become entirely dependent on them.
How does addiction to painkillers occur?
It does not matter why you are taking painkillers in the first place or if it’s a legal or an illegal drug. Most painkillers are highly addictive because they can change the way your brain functions. However, if you start abusing them by combining them with alcohol or consuming them in large doses, the risk of dependency and addiction is highly expedited.
While you are taking painkillers, the pain receptors in your brain get switched off due to their effects, leading to the characteristic euphoric feelings. Over time, the quantity of these drugs required to shut down the same receptors begins to increase. Eventually, you may feel like you are in more pain than ever if you stop taking these medications. This happens as the brain develops tolerance and constantly demands them in higher amounts, establishing a dangerous pattern of use in the future.
In addition to this, many other factors contribute to the risk of addiction development, such as a history of trauma or mental illness, an inability to manage stress, etc. Genetics also seem to play a role in deciding how easily you can develop an addiction.
While you are taking painkillers, the pain receptors in your brain get switched off due to their effects, leading to the characteristic euphoric feelings. Over time, the quantity of these drugs required to shut down the same receptors begins to increase. Eventually, you may feel like you are in more pain than ever if you stop taking these medications. This happens as the brain develops tolerance and constantly demands them in higher amounts, establishing a dangerous pattern of use in the future.
In addition to this, many other factors contribute to the risk of addiction development, such as a history of trauma or mental illness, an inability to manage stress, etc. Genetics also seem to play a role in deciding how easily you can develop an addiction.
Who needs to attend a pain killer addiction treatment program?
The slow progression of drug dependency can easily mask the signs of becoming addicted to a painkiller. Some common signs that you may need to participate in a painkiller treatment program include a lack of empathy, a loss of interest in daily activities, and extreme lethargy.
People who need to enrol in addiction recovery programs are usually the ones who heavily depend on painkillers to fulfil their emotional, psychological, or physical needs. They may also need to consume alcohol or take other medications to increase their high or maintain it. Engaging in such drug-seeking behaviours may ultimately become normal for them. Eventually, they start searching for different doctors so that they can have enough prescriptions to maintain their addiction.
People who need to enrol in addiction recovery programs are usually the ones who heavily depend on painkillers to fulfil their emotional, psychological, or physical needs. They may also need to consume alcohol or take other medications to increase their high or maintain it. Engaging in such drug-seeking behaviours may ultimately become normal for them. Eventually, they start searching for different doctors so that they can have enough prescriptions to maintain their addiction.
What are the common painkiller overdose symptoms to look out for?
For people abusing painkillers, the chances of an overdose are quite high. These signs can include nausea, vomiting, destructive emotions, and an eventual loss of consciousness. Large doses can even cause death.
What is the timeline for recovery from painkiller addiction?
While prescription painkiller addiction does not develop after a single use, it does develop relatively quicker than other types of addictions. This is because most types of opioid painkillers carry a very high addiction potential and can cause your body and mind to crave the euphoria they bring quickly. Hence, breaking such an addiction on your own can be quite challenging. The recovery process at a treatment center involves several steps, including initial assessment, painkiller detox, and various therapies, depending on the severity of the addiction. In general, one to two months are enough to overcome the issue, but some rehabs offer extended programmes for up to 90 days to people with severe addictions.
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