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The problem with prescriptions is that a well-educated,
licensed authority said you needed it
– then when your addiction tells you that you need it, it gets very confusing. In the time it takes to figure
things out, a lot of damage can occur.
Dr. Clifford A. Bernstein, chairman of the Waismann
Foundation and a specialist in chronic pain management and opiate dependency,
developed a list of warning signs to help you identify addiction when you are "only taking a prescription."
"After taking a routine dose of prescribed
medication for pain, some people develop a chemical dependency without even
knowing it is happening," said Bernstein. "Unfortunately, as soon as
they realize they cannot stop taking the drug, they may be too ashamed to tell
their physician, or are afraid that their medication will be discontinued, so
they do not seek the help they need."
At the risk of sounding cliché', the first step toward
recovery from painkiller dependency is identifying and admitting a problem.
After a dependency is realized, treatment can and should be sought, according
to Bernstein.
Many of Bernstein's warning signs might also be
explained by other disorders like depression, since painkillers are a central
nervous system depressant. Some are more
clearly linked directly to addiction. The warning signs that raise red flags, according
to Bernstein, include:
1. Usage Increase
- Over time, individuals taking many prescription medications grow more tolerant
to the effects of their prescribed dose. Increased dosage often indicates that
the original amount is no longer providing relief. Tolerance is a measure of addiction.
2. Change in
Personality - Changes in a person's normal behavior and reactions to things
can be a sign of dependency. Shifts in energy, mood, and concentration may occur
as everyday responsibilities become secondary to the need for the relief the
prescription provides. Nevertheless, such changes can be explained by other
things.
3. Social
Withdrawal - A person may withdraw from family, friends, and other social
interaction. But that can also be a sign of depression or social anxiety.
4. Ongoing Use
- Patients that complain frequently about "still feeling pain" or
request to extend a prescription long after the medical condition has improved
should be monitored closely. Those who gripe about doctors refusing to write a
prescription show signs of dependency. While this appears to be a sign of dependency,
pain is subjective and personal. What
confuses matters further is that painkiller drugs tend to cause pain receptors
to become more sensitized, resulting in an elevated perception of pain. That in
itself can be a type of dependency.
5. Going to Great
Lengths to Obtain Prescriptions - A dependent person may spend large
amounts of time and energy looking for supplies of the drug. Examples include doctor shopping and visiting multiple doctors to obtain the same or
similar drugs. Preoccupation with securing the supply of medication
demonstrates that the drug has become a top priority. This preoccupation and priority are clear
signs of addiction.
6. Change in
Appearance - Personal hygiene may diminish as a result of a drug addiction.
Significant weight loss may occur and glazed eyes may be evident. While
depression or other illness could explain this phenomena, it tends to occur
with addiction.
7. Desensitized
Emotions – Apathy, an attitude of indifference, a lack of emotion, and
demonstrated disinterest in things that previously interested them. This is
another sign possibly explained by other problems, like #'s 8 and 9 below.
8. Increased
Inactivity - Regular activities and favorite past times no longer provide
the enjoyment they used to.
9. Blackouts and
Forgetfulness – Unless one is susceptible to diabetic blackouts, or has a brain
tumor, or other brain disorder, a sure indication of dependence is when the
person regularly forgets events that have taken place and appears to be
suffering frequent blackouts, i.e., lapses of time where the person may or may
not be functioning for which they have no recollection.
10. Defensiveness
- Abusers who attempt to hide a drug dependency may lash out and become very
defensive if they feel their secret is being discovered or their addiction threatened. This is an impediment to those who seek to
help them. Trained professionals can
assist with such interventions to increase the likelihood of reducing
defensiveness and accessing treatment.
To find out more about prescription painkiller addiction
and its treatment see http://myspace.com/nhsoklahoma
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