Chronic Pain and Addiction to Pain Medications…

Many patients who become dependent and addicted to pain pills have strong emotions concerning their pain and their relationship to medicine that once brought them relief from their physical and emotional suffering. The experience of physical withdrawal from opiates when a chronic pain condition co-exists is often terrifying to the person who is in withdrawal. The experience of pain amplification (opiate hyperalgesia) from taking opiate pain medicines is another factor that reinforces false beliefs about the role of pain medicines in the perception of an addict or dependent person’s functionality in their life.
Denial about misuse, abuse, and addictive behavior in the setting of physical dependence to opiate pain medicines is always present as a function of the denial existent within chemical dependency. Acceptance of the truth of dependency and addictive behavior is the most important first step towards engaging within a Pain Recovery Program.
There has never been a time in human history when opiate medicines were more available.  The data regarding death from prescription pain medicine overdose has never been more frightening. This year more than 15,000 Americans will die due to death from prescription pain medicine overdose. Physicians are only now beginning to understand the complex human behaviors that surround brain function, pain perception and addictive behavior.

The Pain Pill Survey

Each person’s pathway to opiate addiction is as unique as their pain diagnosis. The following Pain Pill Survey is an opportunity to ask explicit questions regarding one’s relationship with opiate pain medicines.