Painkillers are medications that doctors often prescribe to help a person manage pain after an injury or treatment for a disease. They are very effective at turning off the pain signals the central nervous system sends, but many can also be very addictive. Unfortunately, painkiller addiction can form even in those who never attempted to misuse the drug. For those suffering from pill addiction in Ohio, let our team at Midwest Detox provide help and guidance.
What Drugs Can Cause Painkiller Addiction?
Some drugs are more commonly available as pain relievers that can lead to addiction. Most of the time, if a person uses the drug in the manner required in the prescription a doctor writes, addiction does not occur. Using too much of the drug or using it too often can lead to abusive behavior. The most common medications to cause this include:
- Codeine: This can include Fiorinal with codeine, Empirin with codeine, and others.
- Morphine: This drug’s brands include Duramorph and Roxanol
- Methadone: Available as both Dolophine and Methadose
- Fentanyl: Includes Brands include Actiq Duragesic and Sublimaze
- Oxycodone HCL: Brands include Tylox, Oxycontin, and Percocet
- Hydrocodone Bitartrate Hydromorphone: Includes Vicodin, Lortab, and Lorcet
Many of these drugs have street nicknames and are available illicitly. While heroin falls into the category of opioids like most of these drugs, there are no medical uses for it, and it is never a prescribed drug.
How Does Painkiller Addiction Form?
When a doctor prescribes painkillers, they do so with the awareness that too much of the drug can trigger the brain’s pleasure center, making it more likely for addiction to occur. Most people should not feel euphoria when using these drugs. However, they should feel less or no pain after taking them.
Too much painkiller use leads to changes in the way the brain functions. This change in chemistry can lead to a stimulation of the pleasure center, which leads to the high a person feels. Over time, this repeated behavior teaches the brain that drug use leads to a good feeling, encouraging use over time.
Dependence occurs when the brain is reliant on the drug and expects it there to perform appropriately. Physical dependence can also occur. This dependence typically creates intense pain, discomfort, agitation, and insomnia when the drug is not there. In both cases, addiction is likely present as well, which leads to the compulsive use of the drug.
How to Get Help for Painkiller Addiction Treatment
Treatment for painkiller addiction is necessary due to a person’s inability to stop using the drug even when they want to do so. Because of dependence, the brain and body do not make it easy for a person not to use the drug. That’s why treatment in a professional, safe atmosphere is best.
At Midwest Detox, we provide detox support for painkiller addiction. Each of our detox programs allows you to remain safe and protected while your body naturally removes the substances from it, and your brain works through the dependence. There are medications to help you, and a medical team is available to ensure your health and mental well-being are safe during the process.
Call Midwest Detox for Immediate Support
If you are struggling with pill addiction in Ohio, consider our treatment programs:
- Women’s detox center
- Men’s detox center
- Residential treatment program
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Medical detox center
Painkiller addiction can cause medication use to spiral out of control quickly. If you are ready to find help, learn more about our programs for painkiller addiction in Ohio. Call our team at Midwest Detox at 833.647.0392 or connect with us online to get the support you need today.