What is a Pill Addiction

One of the easiest drug addiction to be formed is a pill addiction, this is because they are literally everywhere and easy to get since you can purchase them over the counter. Persons often go to the doctor frequently for pain relief, and can get prescribed from a very wide range of drugs. Opiates or as we generally call it, narcotics are pain relievers that are made from another addictive drug, opium. More common forms of opium that are typically used for pain are morphine and codeine, that are usually refined in order to create other addictive pills such as:

Pill Addiction
Pill Addiction

How Painkillers Work

Prescription painkillers are very powerful, these drugs change how your nervous system works by altering how our nerve signals perceives pain. Most painkillers stimulate the section in your brain that is in charge of your pleasure feeling, so, in addition to easing pain, it may also give you a high feeling as well.

How Painkillers Become Addictive

Since painkillers produce a brief feeling of ecstasy, it makes the user more vulnerable to its effects and this can be the start of an addiction as the user will now begin to take more and more of the drug in order to maintain that feeling of relief.

Long term painkiller usage can often times lead to dependence, this is where the body starts to become accustomed to the presence of these contents, sudden stopping of the drug will lead to withdrawal symptoms. If the body starts to build tolerance to these pain pills, then the user will resort to taking an excessive amount of drugs in a short period of time.

Withdrawal Effects of Pills

If you or your family member has been addicted to pills for a long time, then more than likely physical dependence and tolerance has already been developed and if the abuser has suddenly stopped taking the drugs, your body will experience shock which will lead to withdrawal. Symptoms of this include relentlessness, bone and muscle pains, insomnia, cold flashed, involuntary leg movements among many other symptoms.

One of the most serious risks of abusing pills is respiratory depression, that is, the slowing down of your breathing, sometimes so severe that your breathing actually stops and you or your loved one may die.

  • Other withdrawal symptoms include:
  • Severe drug cravings
  • Flu like symptoms such as runny nose, stuffiness of the nose
  • Tremors, goosebumps
  • Anxiety, irritability
  • Abdominal pains
  • Loss of appetite

 

The truth about painkillers is that it does not truly cure pain, it masks it for an amount of time. The now addicted user gets so caught up into trying to mask the pain and ends up taking much higher doses since now, he mentally thinks that is is unable to go through the day without it.

 

Symptoms of Pill Abuse Include:

  • Inability to feel pain
  • Slowed breathing and euphoria
  • Constipation
  • Slurred speech, confusion and poor judgment

 

Seeking Treatment

If you or a loved one is currently under the constant influence of pills, please seek medical assistance before it is too late.