Abusing painkillers is a common practice. Painkillers pose a huge problem in the hospital world, and physicians need to be careful when prescribing them. Patients do need painkillers to ease pain, but they should be cautious because painkillers can be very addictive.

Painkillers effectively treat and ease pain, but individuals can quickly become hooked on a painkiller before they even realize it. Painkillers not only treat pain, but they also produce an intoxicating high that can help relieve anxiety. These two reasons explain why painkillers are the most commonly abused drugs in the United States.

According to director Nora Volkow of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), up to seven percent of patients who are prescribed narcotic or opioid analgesics to treat chronic pain will become addicted. Today, it is estimated that more than 4.7 million Americans are dependent on prescription painkillers. This represents up to two percent of the adult population of the United States overall, and this number continues to grow every year.

Some symptoms of painkiller addiction include taking a higher dosage than recommended; stealing, buying or taking pills prescribed for another person; slurred speech, changing sleep patterns, drooping eyes, social withdrawal, or defensiveness; neglecting responsibilities, forging prescriptions, or ordering prescriptions online; a past history of drug abuse or addiction; and seeing more than one doctor in an effort to obtain more pills.

For more information, contact Solace Counseling. We can create a customized plan to help treat the primary disorder and any accompanying side effects. If you found this information helpful, or if you know people who could benefit from it, please share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Download our free eBook on painkiller addiction.