How to overcome a perscription drug addiction?
May 23, 2009 by Addiction and Substance Abuse Tips
Filed under More Addiction Answers
Can you answer Jamie’s question about Addiction?:
My boyfriend was in a serious car accident years ago and takes painkillers for his injuries. He is in excruciating pain everyday but has become dependant on his pain killers.
My boyfriend was in a serious car accident years ago and takes painkillers for his injuries. He is in excruciating pain everyday but has become dependant on his pain killers.
He believes he has become addicted to his pills.
Should he be taken off his medication? < even with the pain he is in?
Should he have his medication switched periodically to prevent addiction?
What other options do you suggest?
Teen Drug Rehab Centers
Addiction Feedback: He should discuss this with his doctor. It is a not a question to be answered by strangers on the Internet.
Addiction Feedback: Acupuncture helps a lot with cravings. He may need to taper down the painkillers. Talk to his doctor he needs to know what meds can help mangage his pain while getting off the addicting pain meds. Try acupuncture first.
Addiction Feedback: Have him talk to his doctor that is perscribing them. The doctor can taper him off of whatever he’s on safely and perscribe something less habit forming. If he’s on opiates, he might not be in THAT much pain - but since opiates will eventually block the processes that help him make endorphins…. until his body starts making those again, he could feel A LOT of pain that won’t necessarily be there when the meds are out of his system.
Addiction Feedback: duice88, Drug addiction can be extremely serious. Many everyday people have lost jobs, family, and loved ones simply because they could not beat thier drug habits. I suggest you find some help. I found a site that has addiction information and a list of addiction treatment clinics so you can help.
Good Luck
Addiction Feedback: I guess you should consult his doctor about it or any drug therapist to determine his condition.. If ever he is addicted to this medication, you can get help from rehab center to perform detox to get rid with the toxins.
Addiction Feedback: Well since he has an addiction his best bet is probably rehab. However, if that is too expensive of an option, I would recommend seeking free advice from an addiction expert such as Recovery Connection. I’ll leave their site info in the source section. I wish you and your boyfriend all the luck in the world.
Addiction Feedback: If he is in real SERIOUS pain then he very likely NEEDS them to FUNCTION. People who NEED opiate medication for a period of time will at least develop a physical dependence if not a mental dependence.
If he NEEDS these pills for pain, then him being “addicted” is something that should be kept an eye on, but no reason to flip out. Don’t let the stigma of addiction get to you.
Many of the downsides related to addiction are caused by the very fact that they’re illegal (without a prescription which your boyfriend has). The illegality inflates cost and creates a black market where the majority of “addiction” problems originate. Opiate drugs are dirt cheap where they’re legally manufactured.
If he’s in legitimate pain & the doctor prescribes him medication then it’s really not a big deal. If the alternative is agonizing pain every day would you want him to experience that or go through it? Would you want to? Don’t let the stigma of people’s ignorant oh my god hes addicted! reactions sway you. Some people would rather live in complete misery every single day just so someone doesnt think some negative stigma about them.
Now if he starts IV’ng - look out! Troubles ahead.
Unfortunately you can’t really rotate medications, depending on his injury there are sometimes non-opiate injections they do, which help a little for some people. If it’s something serious and he’s not abusing his script then DEFINITELY let it go. Strong pain can make someones life absolutely miserable.
If his pain is EXCRUCIATING then I think you guys are over-reacting unless you’re leaving out details.
If he’s in this horrible pain AND seriously abusing his meds etc. there are no good solutions because if he’s lucky enough to manage to stay off meds naturally after kicking this will be near impossible with real pain.
Methadone is an option…forget the stigma and do the research. If he ever comes off it or any painkillers for that matter though it should be through a slow taper. Methadone is an excellent pain reliever and also has other benefits. After stabilizing on it there will be no euphoria (despite popular belief that people go to clinics and get high every day) on the downside its THE most painful of detoxes. The reason it may be a consideration is that along with not providing euphoria after stabilizing (thus eliminating the mental side of becoming addicted) tolerance to methadone builds EXTREMELY slow. Which is always a good thing. Depending on his dose it may also block any other type of pain reliever euphoria (typically at 80mg +)
Pain patients can be prescribed methadone just like any other drug and don’t have to visit a clinic or anything like that to get it. This isn’t something to be considered lightly, only an option, gotta do the research. It may be a good middle line option for him especially if he’s gonna need something long-term for pain. Just stopping isn’t realistic in that case.
Bottom line is if he’s in real serious pain he’s gonna need opiates, just try to treat the pain and not overdo it and he should be OK. If he’s not in serious pain a detox or two is the first attempt then other options, like maintenance are in order.