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 clich', 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.
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