When a person receives a prescription for painkillers from their doctor, they may have a false sense of safety taking them as desired. However, it is essential that people only prescription painkillers according to their doctor’s instructions and only for as long as necessary. Many people have developed painkiller addiction after taking their prescription medication more frequently than prescribed. If your pain persists after taking your recommended dose and you find it unmanageable, reach out to your doctor to discuss your options before taking an extra pill. If you can no longer control your use of painkillers, you may benefit from the help of an opiate detox center.
The staff at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston understands how easily prescription painkiller use can lead to abuse. We provide non-judgmental care for those who have fallen down the slippery slope of prescription painkiller use. Our opiate detox center can help you purge the drug from your system more comfortably so you can focus on your recovery. Call us today at 866.516.8356 if you notice the common signs of painkiller abuse in yourself or someone else.
What Are the Most Common Signs of Painkiller Abuse?
Prescription painkillers, also known as opioids, are medications doctors use to treat chronic pain from surgery, injury, or illness. While necessary to help people manage moderate to severe pain, opioids are also highly addictive. Taking more than the prescribed dose or taking the drug more frequently than directed can lead to dependence.
How do you know if you or someone you love is struggling with painkiller addiction? Here are some common signs of painkiller abuse:
- Doctor shopping – This refers to the practice of scheduling appointments with different doctors to secure multiple prescriptions for painkillers. Experts have placed limitations on opioid medications to help curb opioid abuse and make it more difficult for people to obtain large amounts of painkillers to fulfill their addiction.
- Appearing sedated – Some of the first signs you may notice if you are abusing painkillers are slurred speech, moving or speaking slowly, and appearing very drowsy.
- Pupil constriction – You can easily tell if a person is under the influence of prescription painkillers if their pupils are constricted, sometimes referred to as pinpoint pupils. If you notice pupil constriction often, the person may be dealing with painkiller addiction.
- Mood swings – Painkiller abuse can lead to emotional ups and downs, especially as the drug is leaving your system. If a person struggles with painkiller addiction, you may notice signs of depression, anxiety, or agitation.
A person who has become dependent on painkillers may not realize that they are addicted. As a person looking in from the outside, you may be better able to notice the signs of painkiller abuse. If someone you care about shows the above symptoms, encourage them to seek help from an opiate detox center.
How Can You Recover from Painkiller Addiction?
You can overcome painkiller addiction with the assistance of an opiate detox center. These specialized addiction treatment programs help support lasting recovery by:
- Helping you get through opiate withdrawal more comfortably using FDA-approved medications
- Providing you with around-the-clock support from trained detox professionals
- Guiding you through therapies to reduce your risk of relapse
- Exploring your triggers for opiate use and helping you come up with a plan to reduce or eliminate them
An opiate detox program is often the beginning of your recovery journey from painkiller addiction. The focus is on helping you purge opiates from your system as you learn how to heal psychologically and emotionally. From there, you will transition to an inpatient or outpatient addiction treatment program that will further support your recovery goals.
Seek Support at Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston
When you or a loved one needs help to clean from painkiller addiction, you can rely on Serenity House Detox & Recovery Houston. Our opiate detox program can help you manage withdrawal in comfort, so nothing stands in the way of your sobriety. When you are ready for lasting recovery from painkiller addiction, give us a call at 866.516.8356.
