Pain Medication Addiction And Symptoms

The most abused drug in the United States are prescription pain killers. There are millions of people who take these drugs for a wide number of valid reasons. They may suffer from migraines, or have just had a surgery. They have chronic injuries and other conditions that they need some relief from. There are a lot of reasons why the use of these drugs is valid, but they are extremely dangerous because it is very easy to cross the line from being a person who is using for valid reasons, into one who is using because they are addicted to the drugs without ever realizing that the line has been crossed. The more the addiction to pain killers set in, the more they are needed in order to manage pain. Pretty soon the body feels like it is in pain if it is not getting a constant fix from these drugs.

Overtime as a person takes prescription pain meds it is common for the dosage to go up because the body will need more and more in order to get any real feeling from the drugs. This is a very strong symptom of addiction. This symptom when paired with mood swings or changes in a person personality is a very strong signal that a pain medication addiction has set in.

One of the most common results from this dependence is that the user tends to withdraw into themselves. They become more introverted and socially isolate themselves because they are not comfortable around people. With this drug it is very common for the user to have a very defensive position when they are called out. Often they will not want to admit they have a problem, or they may be to ashamed to admit it. One thing to pay attention for is if the person begins to "doctor shop" which means that they are visiting a vast number of doctors in order to get as many pills as possible.

This is a bad addiction, but it is very treatable if the person gets the help they need.

How To Deal With A Family Member Who Is Addicted

When people who are close to you, such as family members, are addicted to drugs, the effect falls on everyone who is close to the situation. The effects are emotional, spiritual, psychological, environmental, and financial. The burden is almost as hard on the family and close relatives as it is on the person who is addicted.

A good first step is to search online for information about the form of addiction with which your family member is involved. The best plan for recovery may vary according to the type of substance that the person is addicted to, and a little knowledge can be of great help in learning who to turn to and consult in regard to this particular situation. Try to stick with websites that are medical in nature, or are cited as being governmental and reliable treatment sources. There is plenty of information on the web, but not all of it is that reliable.

Look into organizations such with treatment options. These groups offer 12 step programs that not only help the afflicted person cope with their addiction, but offer assistance to the friends and relatives as well.  Support is offered and good advice as to where successful treatment facilities are located, in case a higher level of care is needed.

Look for local detox clinics and centers for rehabilitation. Get in touch with a local hospital or a health care professional and find out what is available in your community. Finding a care facility that can address other issues such as mental health, anger management and other issues can deal with these problems as well, which could have had a great deal of influence on the cause of the addiction in the first place.

By not ignoring the drug use of your loved one and encouraging them to seek help, you just might be the catalyst that the person needs in order to take the right steps toward treatment and counseling. A professional intervention is the best method of dealing with the situation head-on, and a gentle, loving assist from a loved one, can many times be the difference in a successful outcome.