For about 2 years I was addicted to pain killers. I have fibromyalgia though. You're taking more than I took every day. I was getting shots of Diuladid every 4 hours when I was hospitalized. I had to quit cold turkey & went through the worst time in my life.


r4i

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Jeff, there are also many, many physicians who undermedicate their patients, leaving terminal patients in excruciating pain when a medication that is easily obtained would allow them to die comfortably. My daughter was in excruciating pain for over a week and the hospitalist in charge of her care refused to write her a prescription for dilaudid because it is a narcotic, despite the recommendation of her neurologist. We finally went over his head to the Chief of Medicine. One dose of dilaudid and the issue was resolved. No tolerance built up. No addiction. Just resolution of the problem. It's important that we not make generalizations about medications or other treatments. We need to find physicians that we have confidence in and follow their directions.

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Pain medications are dangerous if not properly dispensed. Doctors over medicate person and leave them on pain medications way too long. Doctors also sometimes prescribe the wrong medication, there are many ways to control pain.

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As some put it, people with true pain and in need of stronger medications do NOT experience a "High" from the medications. Drug seekers are only looking for that high, no differently than they would get from illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and the drugs you find on the street.
I have to say I am glad for those that can find alternative ways to help with pain. I have tried many also.
Yet, like myself, there are people that would love to throw away all of their medications and not take them again... yet as times that is just not possible if you want to live a life with quality and without horrible pain. Anyone that has never experienced horrible, chronic, daily pain, cannot possibly fathom how it takes away from your quality of life. But, if you, a loved one, or someone close to you does suffer from this horrible situation, you will come to understand why pain medications are very useful and needed in some cases. There is too much negative publicity, and far not enough good, sound, and understandable education out there for those who do not comprehend how pain medications can make our lives so much better.

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Due to Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness I have pain, sometimes almost unbearable due to migraines, Lupus, Fibromyalgia, and degeneration of my joints. I have a pain specialist that works with me and my other doctors to try and keep my pain in check. At times we may have to increase my medications, but not because of addiction. After while some people do build up a tolerance. For some, like myself it seems I have always had somewhat of a tolerance, and not just pain meds, but other medications also, where I need a little more than the next person. Thank you for this article. We certainly need to educate the public, with all of the negative publicity floating around, especially in the world of celebrities, that not all people are addicted! As a matter of fact, true addiction only hits a very small minority of people that probably have addiction qualities that began long ago before prescription pain medications.

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I've had crhonic pain for 8 years. I've graduated to a pain pump that's been implanted in my abdomen and constantly sends meds (narcotic, non narcotic) directly to the site of my pain. I also take oral meds to do what the pump can't do. While it's all nice and good to read articles about us poor people with pain and how we shouldn't worry about substance abuse, it's a daily problem. I've been treated like a drug addict/substance abuser/drug seeker, etc, more times than I can count. So while your article is nice and all, it's not a reflection of reality.

For Harsha G - Substance abuse is taking narcotics not for the pain but to get high.

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This was an important article. Thank you for publishing it. As a medical social worker I deal with people with chronic pain, terminal illness and substance abuse issues. One thing that wasn't addressed in this article is how pain meds are absorbed differently by people who have physical pain and those that just have emotional cravings. The medications actually "plug into" different receptors in the cells depending upon the need. This is why people who are using the medications appropriately for pain do not get the same feeling of euphoria that addicts get, although there might still be some mild cognitive impairment until the body becomes used to the dose - usually no more than 3 days. Far too many physicians are not adequately educated about pain medications and are afraid of prescribing them when there is a legitimate need for them.

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I have been on pain medicatons to only delay a surgery that the doctors think would make my life extra hard right now. It is a complication since I can't be prgo on what I am taking and I have recently gotten married. My husband wants children. We do not currenly have insurance so there is no way I am willing to subject a child to being born high. Is there an alternate narcodic drug I could be taking that wouldn't transfer to a little one and mess with their minds during development? Please message me so we could have this as a real discussion since I no insurance and a doctor who is willing to make sure I get the medications I need to survive. I just need to know what to ask for to help me out.

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I have had arthritis for 7 years now and as I seen my pain relief meds increase over the last years, I questioned what would happen if/when I reach my limit and can no longer rely on the highest dosage. This is when I began questioning the line between tolerance levels and addiction. Just when does pain relief turn into an addiction? I stopped taking any of my meds 5 months ago and opted to begin with "bearing" it. Then I began paying more attention to the details that triggered pain. One issue at a time was addressed, making note of each and finding ways to counter the triggers. I ate better, rested better and began listening to my body. Now I can walk for longer, feel better and rarely experience the pain I once did, just before I used to reach for the almighty pain relief tablets. I can respect the use of pain relief meds for terminal patients, as it's far better that they live out their final days in comfort, but where do we draw the line between relying on meds and taking better care of ourselves, and in turn not ending up on them to begin with?!
Meds can aid in initially helping to relieve post op pain, and minor temporary pain only I am seeing far too much use of pain relievers, for everything under the sun. It seems that it is becoming a slack way of avoiding proper care of oneself to begin with, when (unless in extreme cases) used without regard for the reasons behind the pain.

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what actually does "substance abuse" mean...?...and it rather sounds absurd and contradictory to learn that ones body seems to have developed tolerance for these pain killers which would make them seek those medications....against the craving version of becoming addicted to those medicines...how distinguishable are both....i perhaps feel no difference...

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