The whole reason we feel pain is because of the way our bodies communicate with our brains. When we’re in pain, the central nervous system transmits signals to opiate receptors in the brain. These signals help us perceive the discomfort we’re feeling.
The most common painkillers are ones you can buy in a store without a prescription, or “over the counter.” These products include acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. People usually take them for mild pains or fevers. Some people do get addicted, and there are usually warning signs along the way, like these:
1. You think about your medication a lot.
One of the first signs of addiction is becoming preoccupied with two things: when you can take your next dose and whether your supply is enough. Watching the clock, so you can take your next dose may be a concern.
2. You take different amounts than your doctor prescribed.
Maybe you take more than you should or take it more often than your doctor prescribed. If you think your doctor doesn’t understand your level of pain or that they meant you should take it whenever you need to, even if that’s not what they ordered, it may be a warning sign.
3. You’re “doctor shopping.”
Once you stop working with your doctor and try to find someone else who will write you another prescription, something may have shifted.
4. You feel angry if someone talks to you about it.
You feel defensive or irritated when friends or family approach you, you may be getting in too deep. The degree of that anger is not just a sign that you may need treatment, but it can actually be a predictor as to how effective treatment you need.
5. You get painkillers from other sources
You feel like you don’t have enough medication to ease your pain, so you try to get more. These ways of stocking up signal the possibility of addiction:
- Ordering drugs over the Internet.
- Stealing other people’s leftover or long-forgotten prescription drugs from their medicine cabinets.
- Stealing drugs from a sick relative or friend.
- Buying other people’s prescription drugs.
- Stealing prescription pads from doctor’s offices and illegally writing your own prescriptions.
- Hurting yourself 'so' you can go to a hospital emergency room and get a new prescription.
- Buying drugs on the street.
6. You’re not quite yourself.
Maybe you’re not taking care of yourself like you usually do. You’re less concerned about your personal hygiene or the way you look, or you feel moodier than usual. Changes in sleep are another sign.
What to Do
If you recognize yourself or someone you love in any of these signs, even if you're not sure it's addiction, your next step is to ask for help. It can be easy to misuse painkillers, even when you try not to. "The key is honesty" -- honesty with physicians, trusted friends, addiction professionals, but most of all with ourselves.
Don't be afraid to talk to your doctor. They can refer you to a treatment center or addiction specialist.
Or you can call a local drug treatment center, which has addiction experts who are trained to recognize the signs and give you the help you may need. Look for a center that’s certified by the state you live in.
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