Prescription painkillers are highly addictive. People across the United States struggle with painkiller addiction every day. Many prescription opioids, like Vicodin and OxyContin, are prescribed every day for pain. In addition, some people have prescription painkillers for dental work and post-surgical recovery. Others living with chronic pain rely on prescription opiates and opioids for relief. Unfortunately, when someone takes prescription painkillers regularly, their body quickly becomes tolerant and needs higher doses to feel the same effects. Painkiller addiction rehab is the safest and most effective way to overcome opiate abuse and addiction.
If you or someone you know is taking prescription painkillers and is ready to quit, call Baltimore Detox Center today. Our Baltimore, MD center treats painkiller addiction, opiate abuse, and other addictions with medically assisted detox and psychological support. Call [Direct] today to learn more about our painkiller rehab.
What Is the Difference Between Opioid and Opiate?
Opiates are a class of drugs derived from the opium poppy. They inhibit the body’s pain receptors, reducing pain and causing euphoric effects. Opiates are often confused with opioids, which are synthetically made in a lab. Both drugs have the same effect and are highly addictive. Doctors prescribe synthetic opioids for pain management and post-surgical recovery. Natural opiates include medications such as morphine, heroin, and codeine, while opioids include Vicodin, OxyContin, and fentanyl.
Opiates and opioids are most effective when used for short periods of time. If a person takes them regularly and their potency decreases, a person may seek higher doses and harder drugs. It is common to transition from prescription opioids to heroin. Many will crush and snort prescription painkillers to increase their effectiveness.
The Effects of Painkiller Abuse
Opiate and opioid abuse is an epidemic in the United States today. Because doctors prescribe them, painkillers may seem less harmless than heroin, meth, and other illicit drugs. However, because painkillers alter brain chemistry, they are highly addictive. People may quickly take more of a prescription painkiller than prescribed to increase their efficacy and dull emotional or psychological pain. Pain clinics make opioids easy to access. The more access a person has to painkillers, the faster their addiction may progress.
Signs of painkiller abuse include:
- Aggression
- Loss of appetite
- Insomnia
- Mood swings
- Paranoia
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Depression
- Constipation
Painkillers don’t just affect a person’s sensation of pain. They slow the nervous system and reflexes. Those abusing painkillers often have trouble responding to conversations and engaging socially. They may seem like they are in their own world.
Am I Addicted to Painkillers?
If you are taking prescription painkillers, you may need painkiller rehab. Signs of dependency include:
- Taking a higher dose than prescribed
- Drinking alcohol in order to increase painkiller effects
- Feeling you cannot live without painkillers
- Asking your doctor for increased dosage
These symptoms are often accompanied by withdrawal when painkillers leave the bloodstream. If you have developed a dependency on opiates, you may experience symptoms referred to as dope sick. These withdrawal symptoms can be challenging to overcome alone. Many users struggle to quick opiate use at home because painkillers trick the brain into believing it cannot live without opiates.
A reputable painkiller rehab program can help you safely detox from opiates and prescription painkillers. By coupling individual therapy with medical detox, you can regain control of your life.
Start Painkiller Addiction Rehab at Baltimore Detox Center Today
If you or someone in your life is abusing painkillers, you are not alone. Opiates and prescription painkillers are highly addictive and difficult to quit using alone. The compassionate staff at Baltimore Detox Center can help. With a unique focus on addressing addiction triggers and life stress, or clients leave with a new perspective and control. We use a range of medically assisted therapies and psychological support to help those struggling with addiction heal. Call us today at [Direct] to get started.
