Understanding the Signs and Symptoms of Addiction to Pain Pills May Help You or Your Loved One Recover

Of all prescription drugs that are abused, painkillers are by far the most abused. In fact, symptoms of addiction to pain pills have become a pandemic in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control  and Prevention, from 1999 to 2015, over 183 thousand people died in the United States from prescription opioid overdoses. If you think you or someone you love might be on the road to a serious addiction to pain pills, there are certain painkiller addiction symptoms that you should look out for.

Symptoms of Addiction to Pain Pills

With deaths from this form of substance abuse on the rise, it is essential that you know the painkiller addiction symptoms so that you can get help for yourself or your loved one when you need it.

Here’s what to look out for:

  • Social withdrawal
  • Loss of interest in old hobbies, activities, and relationships
  • Lying or stealing in order to obtain more prescription painkillers
  • Unexplained financial losses or credit card charges
  • Flu-like symptoms that come on frequently
  • Drowsiness or drastic changes in sleeping habits
  • An overall lack of hygiene and self-care
  • Overall weight loss despite no effort to lose weight
  • Drastic swings in energy levels
  • A decreased libido
  • Trouble with the law
  • Trouble at work or school

What Are Prescription Painkillers?

Prescription painkillers are largely opioids. This means that they are derived from opium, which comes from the Asian poppy plant. Opioid painkillers bind to opioid receptors already in the brain and make the user feel carefree. Naturally, they also work to eliminate pain by blocking pain receptors in the brain.

Prescription opioids are related to heroin as well because both are derived from opium. As such, it is not uncommon for those struggling with an addiction to pain pills to transition to heroin or vice versa.

Why Do People Become Addicted to Prescription Painkillers?

There is no solitary reason why an individual might become addicted to painkillers, but in many cases, addiction occurs after the individual is prescribed a prescription pain medication by a medical professional. With these drugs, chemical dependency happens extremely quickly.

Patients may initially take the drugs for pain after a surgery or for chronic back pain, but they may soon find that they need to take exceedingly higher amounts just to feel normal — even when the initial pain has subsided. This is dependency in action.

Certainly, it’s also not uncommon for those seeking a high or those struggling with mental health disorders to self-medicate by stealing prescription painkillers or buying them on the black market. Finally, some research also suggests that certain individuals have a genetic predisposition to addiction, which may encourage dependency on these drugs after taking them just a few times.

Finding Pain Pill Addiction Treatment

If you or a loved one think you may be struggling with an addiction to pain pills, the good news is that this form of addiction is treatable. With that said, you should never try to detox or recover from a serious addiction like this on your own.

Instead, you need professional pain pill addiction treatment. WhiteSands Treatment Center can help you get sober from pain pills through one of our detoxification and rehabilitation programs.

At WhiteSands Treatment Center, we believe in creating treatment plans that cater to the individual. Our strong team of addiction specialists, medical professionals, and trained therapists can help you find a treatment plan that meets all of your needs and will work for you or your loved one.

To get started on your path toward recovery, give us a call today at 1 (877) 855-3470. You won’t regret seeking professional help for this issue. Making the call could change your life forever.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.

About the Author

is a proud alumni member of WhiteSands Treatment. After living a life of chaos, destruction and constant let downs, Mark was able to make a complete turnaround that sparked a new way of life. He is serious about his recovery along with helping others. At WhiteSands Treatment, we offer support to you in your homes or when you are out living in your daily lives.