Painkiller Addiction

While pain management is an integral responsibility of doctors, painkiller addiction is a very real risk for every patient. Mental or physical addiction to controlled substances, such as oxycodone, becomes the greater responsibility of law-enforcement entities, as well as a serious health issue in its own right. All of the parties involved can avoid the pitfalls of painkiller addiction by following guidelines laid out by medical researchers and the federal government.

Doctors and pharmaceutical companies often err on the side of caution by prescribing powerful pain medications in the lowest doses possible, and then increasing them if necessary. When pain becomes chronic, however, alternatives may need to be found. Morphine derivatives or drugs that mimic their action are the most likely to be addictive or abused. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration names the family of oxycodone prescription narcotics as the largest current problem.

Avoiding Painkiller Addiction

Oxycodone is the generic name for a popular painkiller used for acute traumatic pain or chronic referred pain. Oxycodone is often combined with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen. These may be sold under brand names like Percocet, Endocet or Combunox. Used strictly according to a doctor's directions, addiction should not be a problem. If pain persists, the physician can move the patient to another form of pain relief, such as relaxation practices, spinal stimulation or surgery.

Correct diagnosis of the cause of pain can also help to make lengthy courses of painkillers unnecessary. Sufferers of chronic pain can reduce their risk of painkiller addiction with effective, permanent treatments. The highly trained staff members of the Bonati Institute are experts at analyzing pain and addressing its cause.