Prescription Painkiller Addiction
An estimated 5.2 million Americans aged 12 or older
abused prescription painkillers within the last month, according to the latest
national addiction survey. This represents one of the highest categories of
substance abuse in our country, and prescription drug addiction has surpassed
previously more common drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine.
Painkillers are unfortunately very prevalent in our
society and doctors can often hand them out very liberally, along with other
medications, without thoroughly understanding the real addictive potential of
these drugs. Some people become addicted to painkillers after first having them
legally prescribed for an injury or surgery. Other people begin taking them as
"recreationally" by getting them from friends and family members.
Contact us today for painkiller addiction help. Call 1-877-372-5719 or fill out the form on this
page.
Types of Painkillers
There are several types of
prescription painkillers that are commonly found and abused. Some are more
potent than others and each may have slightly different effects on a person's
mind and body. Oxycontin is a brand name for a type of narcotic painkiller
called oxycodone. There are also several other drugs in this category, such as
Roxicodone, Percocet, Percodan, Roxicet, and more.
Another type of painkiller is hydrocodone. Brand
names of hydrocodone include Vicodin, Lortab, Lorcet, Norco, as well as others.
This drug is often prescribed for moderate pain for surgeries, injuries, etc.
and many people rapidly develop a tolerance to the drug, requiring more for it
to work, and then become dependent on it.
Methadone has been used more
and more in recent years for chronic pain management, in addition to the
promoted opioid replacement therapy for heroin addicts that has proven not to
work. For more information on this drug check out the
methadone addiction page.
Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex) is a newer drug on
the market that was originally designed to help curb the widrawal symptoms from
opiates but the drug makers have promoted it to be used as another opioid
maintenance drug and even covered up its addictive qualities and abuse
potential.
Regardless of how or why someone became addicted to one of
these painkillers or any other form of opiate narcotic, we can help find
permanent solutions for recovery through effective detox and rehab centers.