| Painkiller abuse continues to rise in adults as well as in | | | | suggesting universal precautions doctors must take |
| teens. For adults, it usually starts with an injury. They | | | | when prescribing pain medication. These precautions |
| are given a prescription for their pain. After the pain | | | | would be a diagnosis with an appropriate differential, |
| is or should be gone, the patient feels like they | | | | psychological assessment including a risk of addictive |
| cannot possibly function without more pain pills and | | | | disorders, informed consent with a signature, |
| the abuse begins. Teens can get it from the medicine | | | | treatment agreement with a signature, and before |
| cabinet at home or a relative's house. They can also | | | | and after intervention assessment of pain level and |
| get it from school. Many teens sell and/or trade | | | | function. |
| prescription drugs at school that they get from | | | | Some methods of treatment for painkiller addiction |
| home. | | | | include the following; Redeveloping natural habits of |
| In either case, this epidemic is on the rise because | | | | reacting to natural causes of pleasure, reversing the |
| prescription pain killers are very easy to get. Using | | | | false feelings of pleasure the painkillers created, |
| these prescription drugs alters brain function. Drug | | | | reconnecting with true friends, and avoiding all of the |
| abusers experience a rush of pleasurable feelings but | | | | triggers associated with the painkiller use. Nobody can |
| these feelings do not last, and continued drug abuse | | | | beat the addiction alone. Not only will the addict need |
| can lead to addiction. Just as people who are | | | | all the love and support they can get from family and |
| addicted to illegal drugs, prescription drug abusers | | | | friends, they will also need the help of a professional |
| experience cravings, addiction, withdrawal, physical | | | | drug rehabilitation facility. It would be almost |
| dependency and other dangerous, even fatal side | | | | impossible for an addict to beat the addiction to |
| effects. Taking a large dose of the drugs could lead | | | | prescription painkillers unless they are completely |
| to severe breathing difficulty, irregular heartbeat, | | | | ready to stop the abuse and make a change. They |
| seizures, or dangerously high body temperature. | | | | recovery will not even last if the addict has a ton of |
| Prescription drugs are one of the most widely used | | | | positive reinforcement and support. Recovery is a |
| drugs second only to marijuana abuse. Until there is a | | | | very difficult time for them and they will need all the |
| way to intervene into this epidemic most doctors are | | | | help they can get. If someone you love is struggling |
| doing what they can to help take better control over | | | | with this addiction, get them help right away. Without |
| prescription aspect of this situation. They are | | | | help, the end result is fatal. |