How to Identify a Pain Pill Addiction

June 9th, 2021

One
may think it would be relatively easy to identify when a loved one or friend is
battling an addiction, but it can often be much harder than one might think.
Perhaps you have a hunch or have even picked up on a few red flags. People who are addicted to opioids may still hold down
jobs and other responsibilities, maintaining the appearance of stability at
work and home. Often times, an addict has worked incredibly hard to
disguise their addiction from anyone and everyone. Sometimes, it is not until
the addiction has completely taken over the addicts life to the point where
they are no longer able to hide it, or even care to hide it, that one discovers
the addiction.

Pain
pill addiction is something that affects so many people all over the world. Studies suggest that up to one-third of people who take
opioids for chronic pain misuse them, and more than 10 percent become addicted
over time. It can also be the case where your loved one is using opioids
without a prescription and using opioids illegally actually increases the risk
of drug-related death. Additionally, drugs that pass hands illegally, such as
fentanyl, can even be laced with life-threatening contaminants or much more
powerful opioids. And people who use opioids illegally often turn to heroin, a cheap
replacement with similar effects.

There are some common symptoms or signs that someone is battling
a pain pill addiction. These include:

• Mood changes
  such as anxiety and depression
• Odd sleeping
  schedules
• Losing interest
  in activities that you used to enjoy
• Regularly
  taking an opioid in a way not intended by the doctor who prescribed it,
  including taking more than the prescribed dose or taking the drug for the way
  it makes a person feel
• Borrowing
  medication from other people or “losing” medications so that more
  prescriptions must be written
• Getting
  multiple prescriptions for pain pills even though it’s no longer needed
• Poor decision-making, including putting himself
  or herself and others in danger

It is also possible
that you may have witnessed a loved one going through withdrawl from their
bodies addiction to pain pills before they potentially fell back into taking
more. Some of these symptoms include:

• Insomnia
• Agitation
• Heightened pain
  sensitivity
• Constipation

By knowing what the pain pill addiction symptoms are, you
can be in a position to help yourself or a loved one to overcome an addiction
to opioids. It’s common, and entirely
human, to avoid addressing your concerns for fear your relationship or family
will fall apart. You may convince yourself that you’d know it was time for
action if your loved one’s addiction was truly serious. Even doctors may
overlook common signs of opioid abuse, assessing the people they treat through
the lens of “knowing them” versus an objective assessment of
opioid-related problems.

If these symptoms are present, it is most definitely a
sign that the individual needs professional assistance in order to break the
cycle of addiction and get clean. Of course, there is only help to be given
though where help is wanted. All you can do is be there for your loved one by
calling out the addiction that has become clear to you and presenting them some
options for help if they want them.

If you or someone you know is struggling with pain pill
addiction, reach out to the Windmill Wellness Ranch team today. Our admissions
team can help you along the process of figuring out what options are available
and even assist in the steps needed to get your loved one on the path to
recovery.