Every recovering addict and alcoholic has to be careful when it comes to prescription drug addiction.
Any one of us in recovery could suffer an accident, a disorder, or a disease that puts at risk for being prescribed an addictive painkiller.
To understand why it is such a risk, let’s take a look at an analogy that can show us how opiate based painkillers work.
Using painkillers is like using a credit card
When you are in pain from an injury or a disorder, there are actually two things going on: your physical pain, and the suffering that comes along with that pain. These are 2 different things, but many times we link them together in our minds. So we have our actual pain, and then we have our suffering from that pain.
When we take an opiate painkiller (such as Vicodin, Darvocet, Percocet, Oxycontin, etc.), what we are actually doing is medicating our suffering, not our pain. Opiate based painkillers do not actually affect the pain at all. They do not work on the physical body in the way that, say, Ibuprofen actually reduces inflammation and lowers your physical pain. Instead, opiate painkillers medicate your suffering, not your pain. They simply flood the brain with those “feel good” chemicals so that your brain has an easier time of ignoring the physical pain. It’s a little bit like getting your brain drunk so that it can forget about the pain signals it is receiving.
So how is this like spending with a credit card?
Well, when you are suffering due to physical pain, you can either pay that suffering now, or you can pay it later….just like with a credit card. When you buy something with your credit card, you are choosing to pay later. If you take an opiate, you are choosing to suffer later. You can take a few opiate pills and medicate the suffering for a few hours, but then later on you will be faced with the same dilemma when the painkiller wears off. This is how you can quickly accumulate “debt” by attempting to continuously chase away your suffering (all the while trying to simply ignore the pain).
Now if you happen to have some very short term pain, this might not be much of a problem. But if you have the type of situation where the physical pain is going to last for a long time, or if you have chronic pain, then you can see how this might lead to real problems.
I work in a position where I have seen unsuspecting recovering alcoholics get hooked on prescription painkillers and end up getting themselves into a lot of trouble. So consider this a warning to everyone in recovery out there to think carefully before letting the doctor write you that prescription.
Here are some strategies you might consider:
1) Talk with your doctor and let them know you are a recovering addict or alcoholic and cannot take any addictive medications.
2) If your doctor insists, remind him that there are always alternatives to the addictive medications he might be suggesting.
3) If your doctor still insists, let him know that you are getting another doctor, one who is knowledgeable regarding addiction and recovery.
4) Seek alternative methods of treating pain. Focus on things that actually reduce the pain itself (as opposed to the suffering) and then treat the suffering using holistic methods.
Recommended Reading
- Overcoming Addiction
- Information about Opiate Addiction
- Painkiller Addiction
- Holistic Addiction Treatment Center
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
While I agree with some of what you have written, not all of it. First being a person in recovery does not mean that your Doctor can not treat you with an opiate, each person is different. For me my addiction is alcohol, never was one for the pills. I have chronic pain, and I do take opiates from time to time. Keep in mind my Doctor knows about my addiction, and I am not taking them daily. Only time I do take them is when the pain is really bad. An alcoholic stands a good chance of being able to take the pain meds, provided they are open and honest with their Doctor. Someone who’s addiction has been narcotics or prescription drugs must be treated with alternative medicine.
For an alcoholic, they only person that can make him/her drink is him or her. Once you are clean and sober it’s all up to you.
Taking the pain medicine can help you heal faster. My advice is be open and honest with your Doctor, and follow their treatment program. After all they did go to school for it.
As always it’s up to the person to decide if they wish to pick back up.
There are no excuse’s to use, if you pick back up it’s because you wanted to!
Interesting points, Pat B. I agree that some in recovery can get away with pain meds, but it is a slippery slope.
I don’t doubt that you are safe in how you are managing your pain. But I have seen others get into trouble.
“Taking pain meds can help you to heal faster” is somewhat true in the case of NSAIDS, but if we are talking about addictive medication, this is FALSE. Opiates do not promote healing like other non-addictive drugs do (in some cases). Opiate painkillers are basically just a “rag in the alarm clock,” a way for the brain to dull the pain signals. In fact it is somewhat similar to the way that alcohol could substitute as an anesthetic. In both cases you are dulling the pain away, not curing it or reducing the inflammation in any real way.
Good points though, thanks for your insight. It is a tricky subject indeed!
Hi Patrick, as usual, I like reading your posts, but I have to correct you here.
Opiates do alter the perception of pain itself. Nocicpetion, or the perception of pain, is actually blocked at the level of the spinal cord and attenuated at the periaqueductal grey portion of the central nervous system. If the painful stimuli can be treated wile the patient is under the influence of the pain medication, they may not have to deal with anywhere near as much pain when the medication wears off.
Having been in a motorcycle accident and broken my Tibia and Fibula, I experienced this firsthand.
Good point there, Adi. Opiates do alter the perception of pain….but at the level of the spinal cord? Isn’t this like one step away from the brain itself? Isn’t this still basically “putting a rag in the alarm clock?”
I just want to get addicts thinking differently about long term, chronic pain. Opiates are great if you use them as you describe (as anesthetic for short term pain) but do opiates actually treat pain like you describe in cases of chronic pain?
Great discussion by the way, and I definitely appreciate your professional opinion here on this site! (Everyone be sure to check out Adi’s site as well).
I was rerended at a soplight by a car going 40mph and ended up with fibromyalgia. My doctor knew of my addictions and recovery, but for 2 years he kept suggesting I go to a pain management doctor that prescribed methadone. After two years of no life, the methadone was like magic. No, I couldn’t live the life I lead before, but I was able to build a new life.
The methadone, only 10mg daily), worked like the oil on the Tin-man in the Wizard of Oz. My Recovery is intact. I wasn’t going to any meetings pre-methadone. After, I went to a lot and helped a lot of women with this chronic pain-medication-recovery issue.
Just because we are addicts, it doesn’t mean we have to suffer. I don’t care about that “rag in the alarm clock” comment. Insulin does not cure diabetes. It allows one to live a somewhat normal life.
That is a good point, Bonny. It sounds like you are doing what you need to do and still active in recovery.
If you are not over-medicated then there is no problem. You are right, in extreme cases, sometime more than Ibuprofen is needed. I think you are an extreme example and you are on the right path for your recovery. God bless
“In extreme cases, sometime more than Ibuprofen is needed”
Ibuprofen is a basic NSAID. In patients suffering chronic, severe pain, it offers little to no relief. Do you forget that many people take opiates so that they can enjoy a decent quality of life. Whether the cause of the pain is actually being targeted is totally irrelevant. Opiates have never been about curing the ailment, rather they are used as Pain Management. IE: To manage and control the pain. I agree that alternative treatments should be explored, but in many cases there are none. Millions of patients around the world have opiates to thank for allowing them a decent, pain free life. Even if your condition leads to you become addicted, the addiction can be managed. There are no negative long term, physical health problems from use or abuse of opiates(other than physical withdrawal). Whereas if the patient were to use Ibuprofen as you suggest, they could be looking at all sorts of GI problems as well as markedly reduced kidney function in the long term.
That is an interesting point, doctor Mclaughlin. I will run it past the addictionologist where I work and see what his thoughts are on that. It is interesting to me that you suggest the idea of “managing addiction.” That is a trade off of course as opposed to firmly steering clear of opiates and taking the problems that come along with using other methods. Interesting stuff, thanks for your comment…