The Truth About Painkillers

The powerful drugs commonly referred to as painkillers are designed to interfere with the nervous system and the signals we decipher as pain. The drugs are also designed to stimulate the brain with feelings associated with pleasure. So, in addition to producing a "high," they work by blocking pain.

A Commonly Abused Drug

Painkilling drugs are a medical marvel and, when used in the proper settings can work wonders. Unfortunately, they are not always used properly. When abused, the drugs can become habit forming and can even kill.

The most commonly abused painkillers are:

• oxycodone
• meperidine
• hydrocodone
• propoxyphene
• hydromorphone. 

These opioid painkillers are addictive and produce a euphoria that is short-lived, making them desirable to drug abusers. Someone who abuses pain killers will need to take more increased dosages as their body becomes addicted to the drug. Once the drug is not taken, withdrawal symptoms will occur and can range from muscle and bone pain, restlessness, diarrhea, insomnia, nausea, leg cramps and feelings of coldness to more serious risks such as respiratory distress, slowed breathing or death. The ease of obtaining painkillers through prescriptions have increased the number of people addicted to them. One in 10 high school seniors in the United States have admitted to abusing painkillers. They represent three-fourths of the drug abuse problem, with hydrocodone being the most commonly abused pharmaceutical drug. The problem not only effects teens, but a growing number of older Americans show a dependence on pain and anti-anxiety drugs such as OxyContin and Xanax.

Types of Painkillers

There are generally four broad classes in which opioids are divided. There are other drugs included in each category, but these are the most commonly known:

• Endogenous peptides that are produced in the body, such as endorphins;
• Opium alkaloids such as codeine and morphine;
• Semi-synthetics such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, heroin and oxymorphone;
• Fully synthetic which include demerol, tramadol, methadone and pethidine. 

Signs of Abuse

The signs of painkiller abuse are sometimes subtle, but recognizable. They include:

• Pupils that appear to be pin-point small
• Constipation
• Insomnia
• Nervousness
• Dry mouth
• Hallucinations
• Hives
• Itching
• Confusion
• Delirium
• Slow or rapid heart rate
• Increased intracranial pressure 

When abusers snort, smoke or inject painkillers, a stronger reaction occurs in the body than if they swallowed the pill, which is the prescribed way of taking them. The high from abusing painkillers will be stronger and more dangerous, which could bring on breathing problems. Once the drug is abused and taken improperly, the abuser will need more and more of it to continue getting the high that is desired. Those who abuse painkillers often see more than one doctor or secretly visit several doctors and pharmacies in order to obtain prescriptions for them. This often keeps officials from realizing they are filling prescriptions for an abuser or someone wanting to sell the drugs. This act is referred to a "doctor shopping" and is considered unsafe and sometimes is tied to criminal cases for abusers or drug sellers who are arrested.

Getting Help

There are many cases of painkiller abuse and addiction that occur accidentally. Many times, after a debilitating accident or surgery, the patient becomes dependent on the painkillers during the healing process. The dependency is not only a physical one, but also can be a mental dependency. The user may be afraid that the pain will return if they discontinue the painkilling drug. Whether the addiction is caused because of a legitimate reason, or the user has a history of drug abuse, the only way to break the addiction and lead a normal life is to get professional help. A rehabilitation center or clinic can provide all types of treatment and professional care for the person dependent on drugs. Once the abuser is clean of the substance, the chances of relapse can also be treated through a rehabilitation center. Most professional rehabilitation programs can be customized to fit the person's addiction and lifestyle. Many people can be harmed by painkiller abuse. It is important to obtain help and by doing so, find a better quality of life.

Deaths Linked to Prescription Painkillers on the Rise

 

A Growing Problem

Prescription painkiller abuse is a national epidemic, resulting in more overdose deaths each year than heroin and cocaine combined. In 2010, 38,329 people died of drug overdoses in the United States in 2010. More than 22,000 of these deaths involved prescription drugs. Three-quarters of prescription drug deaths were linked to prescription painkillers in the opioid drug family, including OxyContin and Vicodin.

Legal Drugs, Deadly Outcomes: How Prescription Painkillers Addiction Kills

22 million Americans admit to misusing prescription painkillers over the last decade. Many of these individuals are “accidental addicts” – they never intended to become addicted to painkillers, but now find themselves struggling with addiction and facing the possibility of a deadly overdose. Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. have more than tripled since 1990, fueled in part by an increase in prescription drug abuse. This increase in overdose deaths parallels a similar increase in sales: prescription drug sales have increased 300% since 1999. In 2008, prescription drugs were linked to 14,800 overdose deaths. The latest 2010 numbers indicate that in just two years, the number of overdose deaths increased by 48.6%.

Doctors Write 300 Million Prescriptions a Year for Painkillers.

 This is enough for every adult American to be medicated around-the-clock for 30 days. Many doctors prescribe medication to manage pain after an accident injury. Over time, individuals find themselves dependent on the medication in order to function. With this dependency comes new risks; individuals who are addicted to prescription painkillers may crush, grind or snort the pills in order to intensify their effects. Doing so increases the risk for overdose

Prescription Painkiller Abuse Leads to Overdose Fatalities & Emergency Room Visits 

Prescription painkillers work by temporarily interfering with the brain’s ability to process pain; when abused, these drugs create euphoric sensations similar to heroin. Prescription painkillers also slow down an individual’s breathing rate. When these drugs are abused, they can slow the respiration rate down so much that an individual may stop breathing all together, causing a fatal overdose.

For every one death from prescription painkillers:

• 10 people enter treatment for abuse
• 32 people visit emergency departments for overdose, misuse or abuse
• 130 people abuse or misuse prescription painkillers
• 825 people are non-medical users

Understanding the Problem: Why Prescription Painkillers are Deadly

Prescription painkiller abuse is a complex problem that includes patients, physicians, and pharmaceutical companies. Hydrocodone (Vicodin) is the most commonly prescribed drug in the U.S., surpassing even leading antibiotics and cholesterol medications. Oxycodone is also popular; sales for this medication surpassed $1 billion in 2012. As long as these drugs continue to be made widely available to patients, the risk for abuse remains high. The number of people seeking treatment for prescription painkiller abuse has quadrupled from 2004 to 2010.

Doctor Shopping is an Issue

Doctor shopping increases the risk for overdose. Individuals who are addicted to prescription painkillers frequently “doctor shop” in order to obtain medication. They may go to multiple physicians and pharmacies in order to obtain and fill multiple prescriptions. The majority of prescription painkillers that are associated with drug overdoses are first to individuals as legitimate prescriptions. These drugs may then be resold on a black market or stolen from family members and friends by individuals who are addicted.

Help Someone Who is Abusing Painkillers: Prompt Care to Prevent Overdose

If a loved one is abusing prescription painkillers, prompt care is essential to preventing a deadly overdose. Withdrawal symptoms can be very difficult to manage without medical supervision. With treatment, however, prescription painkiller addiction can be successfully overcome.