Many people experience chronic pain at one point or another in their lives, especially as they age. Chronic pain can result from health conditions like arthritis or unexpected situations like accidents or injuries. Although some pain can be managed with an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever like ibuprofen, other situations require a stronger medication like prescription opioids. These medications are very effective in treating pain, but they also make you vulnerable to addiction.
If you’re having trouble discontinuing opioids despite adverse effects, you might need the help of professionals. Call Promises Brazos Valley at 979.426.0086 to learn how we can help you overcome addiction at opioid rehab in Texas.
How Are Chronic Pain and Addiction Related?
If you experience frequent headaches and take OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to address them, you might wonder what chronic pain and addiction have to do with one another. Although OTC pain medications can sometimes cause health problems, such as compromised liver function, they’re not addictive. The problem comes in when a person requires prescription opioids to manage moderate to severe pain.
Depending on the specific type of painkiller prescribed, the opioids will interact with receptors in the brain either partially or fully to reduce the perception of pain. This allows the person to feel more comfortable so they can function in their daily life. However, opioids also induce euphoria, which can entice some people to use the drug even when they’re not experiencing pain.
Long-term use of opioids can lead to tolerance to the current dose, so you’ll need to take higher doses for the same level of pain relief and euphoria. As this cycle of addiction continues, you may find yourself experiencing withdrawal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, sweating, and irritability if you try to cut back on or stop using the medication.
Recognizing the Stages of Addiction
If you’re prescribed opioids to manage chronic pain, it’s essential to recognize when you’ve entered into the addiction cycle.
Stage One: Initial Use of Opioids
This stage involves the start of opioid use, whether prescription or recreational. Taking opioids as prescribed for pain doesn’t guarantee addiction, but using them without a prescription poses serious risks. Upon initial use, you may enjoy the intense relaxation and euphoria opioids offer on top of pain relief.
Stage Two: Misuse of Medication
Stage two begins when you engage in potentially dangerous behaviors regarding your medication. Misuse entails:
- Taking medication more frequently than prescribed
- Taking more pills than advised
- Using medication when not experiencing pain
As soon as you feel the urge to use your prescription opioids in any of the above ways, reach out to your doctor to express your concerns.
Stage Three: Tolerance to Prescribed Dose
As your body gets used to your prescribed dose of opioids, it can become tolerant. Once you develop a tolerance, you’ll need to take a higher dose of the drug to achieve the same effects.
Stage Four: Dependence on Opioids to Function
With chronic use, you may begin to feel that you can’t function normally without your medication. This is because your brain becomes less efficient at producing feel-good hormones like dopamine on its own, so you’ll struggle with low mood and motivation without opioids.
Stage Five: Addiction to Medication
Once you reach stage five of addiction, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms and cravings any time you try to quit.
Stage Six: Relapse
Relapse refers to attempting to stop using opioids unsuccessfully. This often happens due to the intensity of withdrawal symptoms that make the person so uncomfortable that they resume opioids just to find relief.
Get Started on Opioid Rehab Today at Promises Brazos Valley
Spotting and addressing opioid abuse early on can help prevent you from progressing through the stages of addiction. Regardless of which stage you’re in, Promises Brazos Valley has a program designed to help you overcome an unhealthy relationship with prescription opioids. Find out more by giving us a call at 979.426.0086 or completing our online form, and we’ll help you enroll today.