What happened to the days when drug abuse meant bongs and hookahs not bath salts and prescription medication? A large percentage of drug abuse starts and ends with pills received from a licensed doctor. Nurses lose their jobs and doctors lose their respected positions over these little narcotic pills. It is far too easy to become hooked on pharmaceuticals. Even crystal meth is made from pharmaceuticals. Like heroin, these heavy duty medications are difficult to kick and the withdrawal symptoms can be devastating. Here’s a few ways to know if a loved one is addicted to pain killers.
Change in Personality
With any type of drug abuse personality change is inevitable. With some it is easier to notice than others. Irrational anger, quick tempers and rapid mood swings is one way to tell if a pain killer dependency is forming. The person may act pleasant and quite normal when high on these pills and short tempered once the drug has worn off.
Sleeping Habits
Insomnia is part of both the high and the withdrawal from these drugs. If you notice a loved one has begun sleeping more during unnatural hours and staying awake all night watching TV this could be a sign of abuse or dependence. Most pain killers tend to make the user sleepy and once their opiate effects where off, the user tends to wake up a bit and become easily irritated and difficult to get along with until they get another pill.
Gateway Drugs
Since pain killers can cause issues with sleeping and eating habits, you may notice that the person has started taking sleeping aids in the evening to counteract the effects of coming
down from the pain killer high. Also, this person may turn to drinking to help sleep or take the edge off of reality once the calming narcotic effects have worn off. Night time cough syrups and allergy medication can also alleviate some of the unpleasant jitters caused by pain killers. Most everything that can be thought of to mix or alter the effects of a pain killer can also interact with it causing serious and sometimes deadly consequences.
Appetite
Most drug users experience a change in appetite. For opiates the difference will be dramatic. The user will no longer feel the need to eat or drink and will lose weight rapidly. If your loved one seems to never be hungry or may only be eating enough to satisfy those around them watch for other tell-tale signs that the person has become dependant. They may even stop eating in order to get even higher off of the medication.
If this is a medication the person is prescribed on a regular basis, try talking to them about the dangerous side effects of narcotic pain killers. If feasible consult their physician about their dependency and see if there is a non narcotic alternative that can be used in place of the current prescription. Always keep your own prescription medications locked and out of reach of other people.
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