Addiction VS physical dependence of narcotics

[NurseTracy]

I have been reading a lot of posts by people claiming to be addicted to their pain meds because they have withdrawl symptoms if they don't take them. PEOPLE, addiction is a psychological behavior where people consume the narcotic after the illness/injury has healed and pain has subsided. Addicts take these meds for the euphoria they produce and not for the control of acute or chronic pain. NOW, narcotic dependence, meaning someone takes the narcotic for pain in order to live some semblance of a normal life with limited pain, will cause withdrawl symptoms if the narcotic is either drastically reduced at one time or stopped all together. Dependence does not usually require any form of treatment or withdrawl program, in a hospital or at home, unless that dependence is bordering addiction.

Please, people, understand your medical conditions and your use of medications. There is no need to suffer because you depend on a medication to live.......after all, if you had to depend on insulin shots ( for diabetes) to live you would take those shots, right?

I'm not trying to sound condescending or like ya'all are idiots, etc.......you are very smart people but many times people, doctors included, don't explain the difference between dependence and addiction and will even use these words interchangeably. Learn the difference.......you don't need to suffer needlessly!

From one chronic pain patient to another.

[gnarly_1]

What do you do when your at the maxim dose and it quits working ???

[vicki595]

Nana- It doesn't matter what WE think or what name WE put on you; it's all about what YOU think.  

You came to a forum titled: Addiction: Substance Abuse.  Something made you click on that link...

[Nanna2be]

I started on opiate painkillers for genuine pain 7 yrs ago, taking the recommended dose, but 7yrs on I take these tablets with no pain n more then triple the recommended dose, my mind thinks of nothing else but how to get my hands on more pills. When I run out of my 2week prescription within 3/4 days I then buy them from a supplier or pester people I know who have them to let me have some, I take usually 7 at a time coz I like the feeling! If I don't have any within hours my legs hurt I shake I'm testless n snappy n that's putting it mildly my body cries out till I get more n there's nothing I would'nt do to get some! Am I an addict or dependant?

[ROSYouralright]

90% of the people that come to this forum are asking for help to get off the pain pills. You said you have been reading through the posts so surely you have seen the loss & devastation that pills have caused MANY people!! I'm pretty sure the person spending almost an entire check on pain pills realizes they are addicted. Since you have been reading through the posts on this forum I'm sure also aware that the percentage of people that fall into the category you are speaking of is quite low. We are blessed to have many intelligent individuals here, including several nurses.
Thank you for posting your OPINION! Best regards

[kyle505]

My mother was dying of lung cancer. She was in a great deal of pain, BUT, was so afraid of "becoming an addict". That fear prevented her caregiver from giving her meds that would have helped her, thus her last weeks on earth were miserable.
And as far of the true pain patients becoming addicted, I still feel that, even though the pain may be legit, it is the individual's predisposition that determines if they become/are an addict. The moment I put a drink to my mouth I was gone. And then I discovered pills. My wife, on the other hand, is not an addict and flushes any meds she gets once OTC meds will do the trick.
K

[NurseTracy]

I am soooo sorry, I didn't mean to make it sound that way......I just wanted to get everyone's attention. It is amazing at the people I speak to, read about, etc, that do not know the difference between dependence and addiction. My main reason for this post is to make people aware so they don't feel they need to live in pain just because someone said they are opioid dependent. I don't lecture anyone as I have been there. I'm still in a lot of pain but I want to try alternative therapies. Can I stay off narcotics? I don't know but it should not scare the H out of me or anyone if they need them.

Kyle, I agree and that is the reason for this post. It may, hopefully, make people take stock of their life or even speak to their doctors about this issue. Many people, especially the elderly, are under treated for pain because they fear addiction. It has been proven that an extremely small percentage of true pain patients become addicted. Now, it is of benefit to know if you are taking the narcotics when not needed anymore and to get the help you need. There is so much on the Internet about this subject but a person needs to make sure the site is reputable......IE: The Mayo Clinic, etc. Not just on forums as info can be mixed and not always true.

Thanks, both of you, for responding.