Addiction to opioid painkillers is on the rise in the United States today. When individuals take opioid painkillers recreationally or even for legitimate chronic or acute pain, they experience a short-lived euphoria. But these dangerous painkillers can also be extremely addictive, and taking them for just a few days or weeks can lead to dependence.
Dependence on prescription painkillers is a sure sign of addiction. It means that your body has gotten used to having opioids in its system. If you stop taking these drugs for even a few hours, you may experience withdrawal symptoms.
The only way to fully recover from an addiction to painkillers is to seek help at a professional treatment center. Below, we’ll look more closely at dangerous painkillers and how they can become a severe problem in your life or in the life of a loved one.
The Effects of Dangerous Painkillers
Painkillers cause both short-term and long-term effects. Naturally, individuals enjoy taking painkillers because of the immediate euphoria and joy that they feel when they first begin. Many people take painkillers orally, but they can also snort them after grinding them into a fine powder.
But the short-term effects of taking painkillers aren’t all good. There are also many negative side effects to taking these dangerous painkillers.
Negative side effects that can result from painkiller drugs may be mental and physiological. Mentally, these drugs can lead to dizziness and confusion, anxiety, and depression. Physiologically, those who take these drugs on a regular basis may start to experience nausea and vomiting, constipation, an increased risk of heart attack, and in some extreme cases, coma, unconsciousness, or death.
How does mental illness play a role in this form of addiction?
In many cases, those who are struggling with addiction also have a corresponding mental health disorder or mood disorder, such as depression or severe anxiety. We have a dual diagnosis program at our treatment center that can help diagnose and treat both of these issues. This is extremely important when it comes to addiction treatment.
Call Pinnacle Peak Recovery Today
If you’ve been abusing painkillers and are looking for a way to recover, Pinnacle Peak Recovery can help. We can also help your loved one if he or she has been struggling with painkiller abuse.
It can be difficult to admit that you have a serious problem with painkiller addiction, but at the same time, it’s important not to let addiction control your life. At Pinnacle Peak Recovery, we offer numerous recovery programs that can help you get to the bottom of your addiction. The programs that we offer include the following:
- Outpatient
- Transitional living
- Family therapy
- Extended care
- Partial hospitalization
- Inpatient
If you’re interested in learning more about the programs that we offer, please give us a call today at 866-377-4761. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you on your journey toward recovery.
