Addiction Vs Dependance

Pain pills: Avoiding addiction

There's little risk of becoming addicted to prescription pain medications if you follow your doctor's directions for use.

The injury was months ago and you've done everything your doctor suggested — stretching, strengthening exercises, ice, heat — but you still hurt.
Over-the-counter pain remedies aren't helping, and you'd like to try something stronger. But you're also somewhat hesitant. What about all the celebrities who've wound up addicted to prescription pain medication? Would that happen to you?
The short answer: Probably not.

What is addiction?
Pain specialists define addiction very precisely. The key component is that an addict uses a drug compulsively, despite the fact that it causes harm. A prime example is cigarettes. Most smokers know that cigarettes damage their health. Many want to quit, but can't overcome the craving. That's addiction.
People who are, or have been, addicted to one drug are at higher risk of becoming addicted to other drugs. Addictive disorders also tend to be inherited. If you have family members who abuse drugs or alcohol, you're at higher risk of the same problem.

Addiction vs. dependence
Some people confuse addiction with physical dependence, a condition that results in withdrawal symptoms if the drug is suddenly stopped.
Many types of nonaddictive drugs — including corticosteroids and beta blockers — can cause physical dependence. These types of drugs should not be stopped abruptly. Instead, the dosage should be reduced gradually, so the person can be weaned off the medication.
Addiction and physical dependence often occur together. But you can have addiction without physical dependence, and physical dependence without addiction.

Addictive pain medications
Some of the most addictive pain medications are opioids, a family of drugs that have effects similar to those of opium or morphine.
Commonly prescribed opioids include codeine, propoxyphene (Darvon, others), meperidine (Demerol, others), hydrocodone (Vicodin, others), hydromorphone (Dilaudid, others), oxycodone (OxyContin, others) and morphine (MS Contin, others).

Who's at risk?
The vast majority of people who take their pain medication as directed never become addicted, even during long-term use. The key is to take the medication exactly as prescribed by a physician. Frequent assessment and follow-up with your doctor will ensure that you're taking the safest and most effective amount of medication.
The addiction risk is higher for people who have a family or personal history of drug or alcohol abuse. This additional risk is lessened in people participating in 12-step recovery programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and who have family support.

Mistaken identity
People with unrelieved chronic pain sometimes act in ways that appear to be addictive. They may be preoccupied with maintaining their supply of medicine or anxiously watch the clock so that they won't miss their next dose. These behaviors, called pseudoaddiction, typically stop once the person gets satisfactory pain relief.
It also is common for people to develop a tolerance to their pain medication, needing higher doses to achieve the same level of pain relief. This is normal, and not a sign of addiction. In some cases, tolerance proves to be helpful, as many of a drug's side effects may disappear once your body becomes more used to the medicine.

Be honest with your doctor
Tell your doctor if you have had a particular side effect from a pain medication in the past. Also share your personal and family history of substance abuse or addiction. Your doctor needs this information to choose the type of pain medication that will work best for you.



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Taken from the Mayo clinic website

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pain-pill-addiction/PN00056

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