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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Painkillers or opiates, have been prescribed and recommended by professionals in different fields of medicine for years. A doctor, dentist, surgeon, chiropractor, or physical therapist might recommend taking prescription-grade medicine to relieve inflammation attributing to your pain. Though taking Vicodin, Oxycontin, or Percocet, can reduce pain for hours at a time, the continued use of these medications for pain relief can have grave consequences.
No one sets out to become addicted to painkillers. They are simply looking for some relief from a headache, backache, toothache, major surgery, injury, or pain-induced illnesses like arthritis. Yet, in an effort to get relief many people end up showing signs of opiate use and addiction and need help to wean themselves off the powerful drugs. How is it that people become so easily addicted to these prescription-grade medications? There are many factors, but here are some of the most common.
They Work Efficiently
Painkillers have become the go-to when a person is in pain. They are so effective in numbing physical pain that doctors will prescribe them, and patients quickly use them. There are alternative pain management techniques, however, most require more effort, money, and aren’t as effective as opiates are at keeping the pain at bay. So, it’s easier to opt to pop a pill than it is to exercise, eat right, or get a massage.
They Make You Feel Good
As research on painkiller abuse becomes more aggressive, there have been reports that patients continue using the pills as a method for coping with emotional distress as well. Those who suffer from physical pain resulting from an accident or chronic illness, for example, also struggle with emotional trauma. When they take prescription painkillers, however, your body goes numb while your brain is dealt a burst of endorphins that give off a euphoria like feeling which makes patients who might be suffering emotionally feel “better”.
Alternative Solutions Aren’t Popular
Though there has been an increase in recent years of people looking for holistic and alternative approaches to treating medical conditions and symptoms, they still aren’t as popular in the medical world. When the topic of pain comes up, it’s almost a natural reaction or response for a doctor or the patient to turn to medication to resolve the matter. It also doesn’t help that solutions like massage therapy and acupuncture aren’t as affordable.
They’re Legal and Easily Accessible
There are other drugs that can be used to numb the mental and physical pain and create a “high” sense of being, but they aren’t all legal or easy to get your hands on. Opiates, on the other hand, can be obtained in an instant. All it takes is a trip to the doctor to discuss an unbearable amount of pain you’re experiencing for a prescription to be handed to you. You can take them whenever and wherever you’d like without getting caught by police.
You Can Develop a Tolerance Quickly
No one likes to be in pain, so you can only imagine how quickly one can develop a tolerance to powerful painkillers. You take one or two pills as prescribed and feel good for a few hours. You repeat this process for two or three days, but now the pills aren’t giving you the same feeling you had a few days ago. So, you take another pill, and another, until you’ve reached a point where your body feels weak or you’re in pain without the medication.
Kicking the Habit Alone Isn’t Pleasant
There are some people who are aware of their increased use of opiates who want to make a change. Yet, when they try, they quickly find out it’s not easy to let go. As you go through withdraw, your body will start to hurt all over. You may even feel worse than you did when you started taking pills, to begin with. Naturally, you don’t want to feel this way so you take a pill to stop the withdrawal symptoms.
Less Judgement
The entertainment industry, in particular, seems to glorify or make light of the use of prescription drugs. There are songs made regularly about pill-popping and partying that encourage both teens and adults to use without feeling ashamed. Though there is definitely an opioid addiction crisis, seeing someone take a Vicodin or Percocet is more acceptable to or not as looked down upon as someone seen doing coke or heroin. So, it would seem that people are opting for the more “socially acceptable” drug of choice.
The country has a serious problem on their hands. What started out as a source for pain management, is now one of the top reasons for addictions in the country today. Since painkillers do their job well, make you feel good, are praised in the music industry, and are legal and easy to access, it’s no wonder millions of people become hooked on them every year. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, get help right away. Addiction is a multifaceted disease, that if not dealt with can cause physical and emotional harm. So, get the help you need to stop abusing opioids today.