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Painkiller Addiction: Identifying The Signs and Understanding Treatment

Written by
On August 12, 2024

Painkillers play a significant role in the nation’s current opioid crisis. Prescription painkillers and narcotics are prescribed to give relief from physical discomfort and chronic pain. But the consequences can often be debilitating.

With such a high likelihood of misuse and addiction, what begins as the solution can quickly devolve into a whole new problem of its own. If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid addiction or other prescription drug abuse, Ikon Recovery can help.

Our treatment options cover everything from medication-assisted treatment to therapy and vitamin interventions to give you comprehensive support. Our community-based programming also offers an immersive experience to address mental health co-occurring disorders and substance use disorders with practical peer support and practical lifestyle assistance. Reach out today to learn more and get started on your recovery journey.

Key Points:

  • Prescription painkillers are pain medications that contain opioid analgesics that are prescribed for treating moderate and chronic pain.
  • Painkillers that contain opioid analgesics change how your brain perceives pain, unlike anti-inflammatory analgesics, which reduce inflammation.
  • Opioid painkillers are classified as Schedule II controlled substances, which carry a high potential for abuse and addiction.
  • The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that over 2.5 million U.S. adults over 18 had opioid use disorder in the last year, but only 20% received treatment.
  • Painkiller addiction treatment includes therapy, medication-assisted treatment, vitamin interventions, peer support, education, and more.

What Are Painkillers?

Prescription painkillers, also known as prescription opioids and narcotics, are pain medications that contain opioid analgesics and act differently in the body than over-the-counter pain relief options.

Analgesics are prescribed to treat moderate or chronic pain associated with migraines, injuries, arthritis, fibromyalgia, headaches, post-surgery pain, and more. Anti-inflammatory analgesics (like NSAIDs, Aleve, Ibuprofen, etc.) reduce inflammation, while opioid analgesics change how your brain perceives pain. [1]

It’s this influence on the brain that can lead to dependence and addiction. Opioid painkillers are classified as Schedule II controlled substances, which carry a high potential for abuse and addiction.[2]

Common prescription painkillers or opioid analgesics include:[3]

  • Vicodin (hydrocodone)
  • Percocet or Oxycontin (oxycodone)
  • Codeine
  • Fentanyl
  • Kadian or Avinza (Morphine)
  • Opana (Oxymorphone)

Painkiller Addiction and Abuse

Recent numbers from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) noted that over 2.5 million U.S. adults over 18 had opioid use disorder in the last year.[4] Perhaps more disheartening is the revelation that only 22% of the 2.5 million adults received treatment.

In 2022, overdose deaths involving prescription opioids rose to 14,716, where roughly a third of them were due to prescription opioids alone, with no additional synthetic opioids.[5] While this was lower than the previous two years, much work needs to be done.

Painkiller abuse or misuse of prescription opioids (opioid use disorder, OUD) often looks like this:[6]

  • Taking painkillers in any way other than prescribed by a doctor (snorting, higher doses, too frequently, etc.)
  • Taking someone else’s painkillers
  • Taking painkillers to experience a “euphoric high.”

 

Someone who is struggling with painkiller substance abuse may experience the following symptoms:[7]

  • Depressed breathing
  • Cravings
  • Increased tolerance, requiring higher doses
  • Withdrawal symptoms (like anxiety, jitters, agitation, muscle cramps, diarrhea, low blood pressure, etc.)
  • Altered brain function
  • Memory issues
  • Lack of pleasure in former hobbies and social activities
  • Reduced stress response
Addiction Treatment by Substance

Painkiller Quick Reference Chart

Drug Category
Opioids, analgesics, narcotics
Commercial & Street Names
Vike, Captain Cody, Oxy, Percs, Hillbilly Heroin, Stop Signs, Watson-387, Schoolboy, Blue Heaven, Sizzurp, White Stuff, Biscuits, O Bomb, Doors & Fours, Blues, Mrs. O, Loads, Pancakes and Syrup, Oxycet, Oxycotton, M, Miss Emma, Monkey, Octagons
DEA Schedule
Schedule II
Administration
Oral, snorting, injection

10 Signs Someone May Be Abusing Painkillers

To help you identify painkiller addiction or opioid use disorder in yourself or someone you love, look for the following signs and lifestyle changes:[8]

  1. Reduced performance at work or school
  2. Behavioral changes (e.g., illegal activity, DUI, financial neglect, etc.)
  3. Taking larger amounts over time
  4. Needing higher doses for the same effects (tolerance)
  5. Neglecting hobbies and activities formerly enjoyed
  6. Risky behavior and hazardous use
  7. Continued painkiller use despite negative consequences
  8. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when painkillers aren’t taken
  9. Inability to stop using painkillers despite a desire to
  10. Cravings for painkillers

If one more of these identifiers is present, it’s time to consider professional help.

What Does Painkiller Withdrawal Look Like?

When you stop taking painkillers after developing a dependence, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. This is your body and brain’s reaction to losing a substance it has grown accustomed to. Painkiller withdrawal symptoms may include:[9]

  • Anxiety and agitation
  • Aches, pains, and muscle cramps
  • General discomfort
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Low blood pressure
  • Pain
  • Shallow breathing

Painkiller Addiction Treatment

Overcoming painkiller addiction and opioid use disorder is more than stopping the use of painkillers. Treatment helps you address the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of the human experience to become the best version of yourself and pursue greatness. 

Ikon Recovery provides compassionate, community-focused treatment services uniquely designed to meet you where you are and be there for you for life. Find your place along our continuum of care, which includes:

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

Our PHP program is a full-time day program designed to feel like inpatient treatment for substance use disorder without restrictive live-in requirements. We’ll walk with you through therapy, education, medication-assisted treatment, community support, and more.

Intensive Outpatient (IOP)

This level of care is an outpatient program with part-time care three to five days a week, based on your individualized treatment plan. You will have therapy, education, medication-assisted treatment, community support, and more.

Outpatient Program

Ongoing support is essential as you reintegrate into daily routines and set up a safe and healthy future. Our outpatient program offers practical, long-term support and treatment.

Aftercare Program

The Ikon Recovery community is committed to your long-term success. We’re here for you, with support, access to treatment, education, events, and more, long after your formal treatment program has ended. You will never have to worry about feeling lonely in your recovery.

Recovery Capital

By investing in your social life, personal values, and community, you establish Recovery Capital that strengthens your commitment to lifelong recovery.

Alumni Services

Our alum community comes together for training, events, and fun to continue developing connections, being inspired, and finding support. Join the community!

Sober Living

Our network of thriving sober living communities offers a safe space to maintain recovery progress and reinforce the new, healthy foundation you’ve built. This is the cherry on top of your fresh start.

Reach Out For Help With Pain Killer Addiction

There is hope for you and your loved one. What may seem like an insurmountable challenge can be overcome with the right support, guidance, and treatment. Ikon Recovery is here to offer long-term solutions that support a lifetime of recovery and healing. Reach out today to learn more.

Frequently  Asked Questions About Painkiller Addiction and Withdrawal

Is there a painkiller that is not addictive?

There are painkiller alternatives that may not carry the same risks of addiction. Some commonly available pain relief options include ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin, steroids, muscle relaxers, some antidepressants, and more. Talk to your doctor about what medications may be helpful for you.

What is the strongest painkiller?

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 – 100 times more potent than morphine.[10] It’s only legally obtained via prescription in severe cases or as an anesthetic, though it is available from illicit sources and often used as a cutting agent for street drugs. 

How long does painkiller withdrawal last?

Opioid and painkiller withdrawal symptoms typically begin within 8 to 24 hours for short-acting opioids and within 12 to 48 hours for long-acting opioids, lasting approximately 4 to 10 days.[11] These first few hours and days of withdrawal can be intense, but with the right support, you can detox safely.

What does it mean to have a substance abuse problem?

A substance use disorder (SUD) can sneak up on you, especially with prescription opioids. A substance use disorder (SUD) is a complex condition characterized by the uncontrolled use of a substance despite harmful consequences. It involves both physical dependence and psychological addiction. You only need extra support from compassionate professionals and life-changing guidance to overcome this challenge and build a brighter future. 

Sources

[1]Cleveland Clinic, medical. (n.d.-b). Analgesics: Uses, treatment, risks. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/21483-analgesics

[2]Drug scheduling. DEA. (n.d.-b). https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling

[3][6]U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023b, May 25). Prescription opioids Drugfacts. National Institutes of Health. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-opioids

[4]U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023c, October 2). Only 1 in 5 U.S. adults with opioid use disorder received medications to treat it in 2021. National Institutes of Health. https://nida.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/2023/08/only-1-in-5-us-adults-with-opioid-use-disorder-received-medications-to-treat-it-in-2021

[5]U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2024, May 30). Drug overdose death rates. National Institutes of Health. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates

[7][9]Kosten, T. R., & George, T. P. (2002, July). The neurobiology of opioid dependence: Implications for treatment. Science & practice perspectives. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2851054/

[8]Opioid use disorder. Psychiatry.org – Opioid Use Disorder. (n.d.). https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/opioid-use-disorder

[10]U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023a, March 3). Fentanyl drugfacts. National Institutes of Health. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/fentanyl

[11]U.S. National Library of Medicine. (1970a, January 1). Withdrawal management. Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310652/