According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, up to 36 million people worldwide now suffer from substance use disorders. Despite the common misconception that over-the-counter medicines are perfectly harmless, prescription drug abuse makes up a worrying percentage of this.
Because we don’t think anything of someone taking an Ibuprofen, another problem with these medicines is that painkiller addiction can be very hard to detect. A drug or alcohol problem on the other hand is much easier to notice because chances are that you will notice if someone always smells of alcohol or if they’re unsteady on their feet.
If you’re worried that you or a loved one could have a problem, below are five warning signs of painkiller addiction.
You think about your medication a lot
One of the most obvious signs of prescription drug abuse is that you become preoccupied with the very thing that you’re addicted to. With painkiller addiction, you will find yourself constantly wondering when you can take your next dose as well as worrying whether you have an ample supply of pills.
Just like a smoker will stock up on cigarettes because they panic they won’t have enough to get them through the night if they’re not near a shop, you may find yourself stocking up on painkillers out of fear that you might run out.
You’re increasing your dosage
When you’re physically dependent on a drug, your body builds up a tolerance to it and you need higher doses in order to get the same effect you’re used to.
Building up a tolerance to your medication is a sure-fire sign that you’re taking too much of it and you should be particularly concerned if you or a loved one are going against the instructions of a doctor.
If you really are in pain following an accident or operation for example, always speak to your doctor before changing your dosage because doing so can be dangerous.
You get painkillers from other sources
If you’re willing to get painkillers from sources that may not necessarily be safe, this is a sign of prescription medication abuse. The only person you should ever get medication from is your doctor so if you find yourself obtaining painkillers from any of the sources mentioned below, it may be time to seek help:
- The Internet
- Stealing other people’s medication
- Buying other people’s prescription drugs
- Stealing prescription pads from your doctor’s office or illegally writing your own prescriptions
- Hurting yourself so you can go to a hospital emergency room and get a new prescription
- Buying drugs on the street
You’ve been using painkillers for a long time
When used correctly, painkillers should only be used in the short-term to help ease a headache or recover from an operation or broken bone for example. If you have been taking pain relief medication for a long time however, even long after the pain should have gone away, this could be a sign of prescription medication abuse.
Once an addiction becomes present you will find that rather than taking painkillers to relieve pain, you’re taking them because you like the way they make you feel or because you’ve started to have physical cravings for them.
You’re not quite yourself
An addiction can affect us both mentally and physically. Maybe you’re not taking care of yourself the way you used to, you’ve stopped caring about personal hygiene, you’re suffering from mood swings, you’re angrier than usual, you’re neglecting your responsibilities and your sleeping or your eating habits have changed. These are all prescription medication abuse symptoms.
If you think that you or someone you know could have a problem, please feel free to contact Toronto Trauma & Addiction Counselling for more information about prescription drug abuse signs, symptoms and treatments that are available.
