Common Signs That Someone is Abusing Painkillers

Addiction to painkillers is a growing epidemic in the United States and other areas of the world. The number of people taking prescription medications without a medical need has increased over 75 percent from 2002 to the present. Additionally, over 4.6 million people have admitted to using these pills with no medical need for a period of over 30 days. Over 956,000 Americans have used painkillers for longer than 200 days straight with no medical reason. These statistics show that painkillers are highly addictive and that people have a tendency to use them for recreational purposes rather than medicinal purposes. The epidemic becomes worse because many doctors are refilling prescriptions for profit, knowing that the patients are addicted. The best way to reduce the number of people addicted to painkillers is for friends and family members to get involved when they see signs of abuse. Intervening can possibly save lives. The following are five common signs that someone is abusing painkillers:

 

1. Refilling Prescriptions after Injury Subsides

The most common sign that someone is abusing painkillers is the refilling of prescriptions with no cause. The individual may have initially gotten the prescription to ease the pain of a medical procedure, tooth extraction, or some other temporary situation. If a person is continuing to see the same doctor to obtain painkillers and he or she is not showing any signs of discomfort from the original cause, then this person is most likely engaging in the abuse of painkillers. It might be a good idea to question the person as to why the doctor continues to refill the prescriptions.

 

2. Constantly Borrowing Money

Someone who is abusing painkillers may have to purchase them on the street if the doctor is not refilling the prescriptions. Painkillers can cost from $5 to $20 each on the street. Depending on the strength the individual is taking, money can disappear very quickly. Anyone who tears through his or her paycheck in less than a day and constantly asks family and friends for loans is probably abusing the painkillers.

 

3. Neglecting Responsibilities

Neglecting responsibilities such as work, school, children, and hygiene are telltale signs that a person is abusing painkillers. Someone who has this problem will be distant and isolate himself or herself from friends or family members. He or she may completely ignore a romantic relationship because of the constant pursuit of painkillers. Work may become the last item on the priority list after payday. Additionally, hygiene may not be up to par because of the preoccupation with getting high.

 

4. Strange Sleeping Habits

Someone who is abusing painkillers may have strange sleeping habits, depending on how the drugs affect his or her body. Sometimes painkillers give users too much energy and they stay up until the wee hours of the morning and sleep during the day. Anyone who knows someone who has suddenly changed sleeping patterns and is exhibiting some of the other symptoms may assume that person is abusing painkillers.

 

5. Irritability

A person who is abusing painkillers may be in denial in regards to the usage. He or she may get angry if a friend or family member asks about the abuse. The individual may also become irritated as a sign or symptom of withdrawal.

 

The Best Approach

There are many more symptoms that a person abusing painkillers may exhibit. The best way to approach the suspected party is with love and friendly advice. The onlooker will want to let the person know that he or she is loved and accepted. If the person is responsive to help offerings, then the family member or friend can take steps to get that person assistance.

 

Source

United States National Library of Medicine: Pain Relievers Meta: Common signs that someone is abusing painkillers are refilling prescriptions frequently, neglecting responsibilities, strange sleeping habits, and many others.

The Financial Consequences of Using Painkillers

According to John Fauber of the Journal Sentinel, "Prescriptions for narcotic painkillers soared so much over the last decade that by 2010 enough were being dispensed to medicate every adult in the United States around-the-clock for a month." What else happened during the last ten years? During the past decade almost 100,000 Americans overdosed and died because of opioid abuse, and millions more are battling addiction. In the face of this troubling news, it's high time to take a look at the financial consequences of using painkillers. First, let's take a look at the major factors influencing the abuse of painkiller pills.

The Big Picture

Painkillers, commonly referred to as pain relievers, pain medications, opiates, and "pills," are medically classified as analgesic drugs. They can be sub-classified as narcotic analgesics (like morphine, codeine, methadone, and oxycodone) or non-narcotic analgesics (aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and diclofenac.) Some narcotic analgesics,like Percodan, Percocet, Roxicet, Vicodin, Lorcet, and Lortab, combine an opioid with aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. As mentioned previously, over the last decade there has been a dramatic increase in the use and abuse of painkillers. These drugs are readily available. Many children get them from the family medicine cabinet or the local drugstore. Painkiller pills are heavily marketed leading to increased awareness of their availability. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, painkiller pills kill five times as many people as heroin and almost twice as many as cocaine. More people overdose on these drugs every year than die from heroin and cocaine combined. 15,000 people die annually, enough that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have determined that the abuse of painkillers is a public health epidemic. This addiction is an out-of-control epidemic, not caused by a virus or a bacteria, but rather a marketing campaign that drug companies have used to change the way physicians treat pain.

The Bottom Line

Earlier this month, the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance opened a bipartisan investigation into financial relationships between the pharmaceutical companies that manufacture narcotic painkillers and the assorted nonprofit groups that promote the drugs for pain treatment. It's past time we take a serious look at the financial implications of the current situation. What exactly are the financial consequences of using painkillers?

Addicts/Abusers

The cost of addiction is difficult to quantify. What is the value of a human life? Someone addicted to painkillers can spend lots of money to get drugs. This leads to conflicts with friends and loved ones. Many addicts neglect their financial responsibilities. The longer they abuse painkiller pills, the worse it gets; as they build a higher tolerance, they need more pills. Additionally, the cost of medical treatment for people abusing and misusing painkillers is astounding. Most of these people receive their treatment in emergency rooms, so you must account for the ER costs. Then you have outpatient therapy, the treatment itself, and support groups--all of which cost money. Because some people get their painkillers illegally, you must factor in the financial cost of illicit activity. To be clear, this could include everything from court costs and legal fees, to bail, fines, and the expenses associated with employing law enforcement and judicial personnel.

Drug Companies

Prominent drug manufacturers like Purdue Pharma, Johnson &amp, and Johnson and Endo Pharmaceuticals have come under fire amidst allegations of improper financial influence and aggressive marketing. There is no doubt that pharmaceutical firms are getting rich on painkiller pills. According to drug market research firm, IMS Health, sales on prescriptions of opioid drugs totaled $8.4 billion in 2011, up from $5.8 billion in 2006.

Doctors/Medical Professionals

Although many doctors and medical professionals are conscientious and prescribe pain pills only when absolutely needed, there are some doctors who are paid to speak and consult for drug companies. These doctors make money on the side promoting drugs that may actually be harming people. This is a severe conflict of interest.

Nonprofit Organizations and Lobbyists

There have been newspaper reports that certain nonprofits pushed for expanded use of narcotic painkillers and are subsequently raking in millions of dollars from the pharmaceutical companies that made the drugs. The University of Wisconsin Pain & Policy Studies Group received $2.5 million from drug manufacturers over a ten year period. That's just one organization! The Wall Street Journal reported that because of a recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision, more than twelve pharmaceutical companies are planning to create painkilling drugs that are not easy to abuse. This is a step in the right direction, but it's only the beginning. We are not only behind the curve when it comes to assessing the health impact of this epidemic, we've been slow to recognize the financial consequences of using painkillers as well.

Sources

1. The United States Senate Committee on Finance
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Preventing Prescription Painkiller Overdoses