Pain Killer Addiction vs. Pain Management

Woman taking pills from a prescription bottle

Forget heroin, forget cocaine. Prescription drugs kill more of us than those 2 combined. Prescription drugs can kill when misused by patients in error or by addiction.

Approximately 15,000 people died in 2008 (the most recent year for which data is available) from overdoses using narcotic drugs like Oxycontin, Percocet, Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Adderall, Concerta, Ritalin. Many of these people were not addicts. “I think that accidental deaths from prescription narcotics is still much more a function of unintentional misuse or chronic habituation and overuse, rather than an epidemic of addicts enabled by unscrupulous prescribers,” says Henry Carson, a pathologist in Iowa City, via email (Forbes.com).

But the fact remains that many of the drugs in common use today are extremely addictive. The warning is right on the label of many painkillers and other narcotic drugs — that *even when used correctly* many painkillers can cause dependence. Addiction to painkillers is a deadly side effect that spans all age groups and income levels. The FDA has been tracking the ever-growing abuse problem. It cannot be ignored that “enough prescription painkillers were prescribed in 2010 to medicate every American adult around-the-clock for one month” (Source: CDC).

Until last week, action by the FDA has been stymied for fear that restricting access to painkillers (in order to lower abusive use) would result in withholding drugs from patients with legitimate pain management needs.

In an interview with the New York Times, Dr. Janet Woodcock said that FDA officials were aware that changing the prescribing rules would affect patients. She said, however, that the impact on public health caused by the abuse of the drugs as well as their medical use had reached a tipping point. Dr. Woodcock is the director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

The FDA is now recommending that opioid painkillers be reclassified as Schedule II medication, up from Schedule III (For a  description of each of the 5 Schedules, see our blog on drug classification schedules.) There are a few more approval processes to go through, but this proposal is expected to pass. This change will mean that patients have to see their doctor every 3 months, rather than 6, for a refill. Also, pharmacists will have higher reporting standards and patients will have to go to the pharmacy in person, rather than having the doctor phone it in, along with other inconveniences designed to make “prescription shopping” and using multiple pharmacies more difficult.

Death isn’t the only medical cost of addiction. For every 1 death from prescription drugs, the CDC estimates there are:

  • 10 treatment center admissions for abuse
  • 32 ER visits for misuse and abuse
  • 130 people who abuse or are dependent
  • 825 non-medical users

Here’s what Dr. Sanjay Gupta had to say about the addictive nature of painkillers, via CNN:

We know, however, that after just a few months of taking the pills, something starts to change in the body. The effectiveness wears off, and patients typically report getting only about 30% pain relief, compared with when they started. Even more concerning, a subgroup of these patients develop a condition known as hyperalgesia, an increased sensitivity to pain…. As you might guess, all of this creates a situation where the person starts to take more and more pills. And even though they are no longer providing much pain relief, they can still diminish the body’s drive to breathe….If you are awake you may not notice it, but if you fall asleep with too many of these pills in your system, you never wake up. Add alcohol, and the problem is exponentially worse. People who take pain or sleeping pills and drink a couple glasses of wine are playing Russian roulette.

Nobody wants to withhold painkillers from those who need them. Yet painkillers are too easy to misuse and a side effect of painkillers is addiction. Uncontrolled addiction leads to death, with much collateral damage along the way. And, a disturbing fact, a USC/Annenberg study finds that painkillers are not an effective method for dealing with pain.

What are we doing to ourselves?

Comments? Thoughts? If you have a story about Valium, Oxycontin or Percocet, please tell us on Facebook.

DISCLAIMER: MedShadow provides information and resources related to medications, their effects, and potential side effects. However, it is important to note that we are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The content on our site is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Individuals dealing with medical conditions or symptoms should seek guidance from a licensed healthcare professional, such as a physician or pharmacist, who can provide personalized medical advice tailored to their specific circumstances.

While we strive to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information presented on MedShadow, we cannot guarantee its completeness or suitability for any particular individual's medical needs. Therefore, we strongly encourage users to consult with qualified healthcare professionals regarding any health-related concerns or decisions. By accessing and using MedShadow, you acknowledge and agree that the information provided on the site is not a substitute for professional medical advice and that you should always consult with a qualified healthcare provider for any medical concerns.
Show Comments (4)
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
4 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
K Hansen

I was looking for an UNBIASED article about addiction vs. pain management. Once again, the truth is misconstrued and fit to an agenda. OBVIOUSLY an agenda that has no clue (or care) about chronic pain patients and their AMAZING ability to take these pain medications for YEARS (even DECADES) with absolutely NO ADDICTION or even misuse of their properly prescribed (& maintained) pain medications. The Opidemic has gone from the truth about addictions & OD deaths, to blaming millions of innocent pain patients who have NEVER had ANY issues with their medication. The facts are: the major problem of addiction and OD’s are from the ILLEGAL drug industry (i.e. Heroin, illicit fentanyl and the like). BEFORE YOU INSULT A HUGE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE, MAYBE YOU SHOULD SPEND AS MUCH TIME LEARNING FROM THEM AS YOU DO LISTENING TO A GROUP OF PHYSICIAN’S WHO HAVE NEVER TREATED PAIN PATIENTS. I hope you never have to watch a loved one suffer with intractable, chronic pain 24/7/365 (or be forced to live it yourself) and then be DENIED the one thing that actually give’s back a semblance of a productive life, because of ignorance and feeding into the ANTI PAIN MEDICATIONS frenzy. A huge number of CPP’s are dying due to the complete denial of the chronic pain patients rights and even a voice to speak up about the travesty our world has become.

Kim Hansen

Your article is a HUGE insult to the millions of chronic pain patients who have NEVER misused or abused their pain medication. Spend some time talking the the actual PEOPLE who live this life, along with the physicians who so blatantly disapprove of medications that have assisted a huge number of people in getting back even a small part of life they had pre-chronic pain. It has been PROVEN that illegal heroin & illicit fentanyl are the major problems. Suffering (and watching someone you love suffer) is a true nightmare and the VERY BIASED reporting is doing no one favors. PEOPLE CAN & DO TAKE THESE MED’S FOR YEARS EXACTLY AS DIRECTED WITH NO ABUSE OR MISUSE. Get quotes from us too. Please do not rely solely on the opinions of others.

Biuro pogrzebowe Targówek

You’ve done an excellent job in breaking down this complex issue. Your article is very informative.

Biuro pogrzebowe Abiasz

I’m so glad I came across this article. Your insights are incredibly valuable and thought-provoking.