| An addiction is the inability of being able to stop using | | | | what the doctor prescribed to you, not a pill more |
| something. There are many different types of | | | | and not a pill less. Get the instructions in writing, this |
| addictions such as alcohol, shopping, food and pain | | | | way you have it in front of you and you can’t |
| medications. The most common form of addiction is | | | | forget by thinking did the doctor say one or two, |
| cigarette addiction, millions and millions of people | | | | that is how the addiction begins. |
| smoke and they cannot stop. When the craving for | | | | There are always warning signs to people who are |
| something is so stronger that it wins over not taking | | | | becoming addicted, the key is to know the signs and |
| it that is addiction. Drug addiction is the second most | | | | recognize them if you see them. The first warning |
| common form of addiction. Pain medication is the | | | | sign is that you or someone you know is taking a |
| third strongest addiction. Some people take so much | | | | prescribed medication and you are taking more than |
| medication for something like an accident and when | | | | the doctor ordered. The second sign is that you or |
| the injury heals and the prescriptions stop, then the | | | | someone you know is requesting prescriptions from |
| addiction kicks in. | | | | more than one doctor. The third sign is that when |
| There are three terms that have become intertwined | | | | you take the medication, you are also chasing the |
| with each other and some people think they mean | | | | medication with alcohol in order to get a heightened |
| the same thing when all three are three separate | | | | effect of the medications. The fourth sign is that you |
| entities. The first one is tolerance, tolerance means | | | | are taking the medication to escape from everyday |
| that your body has adapted or accepted the use of | | | | life. Lastly, your doctors and friends and family have |
| a drug. When a person builds a tolerance, it means | | | | told you they are worried about you and about the |
| that the drug or substances no longer has that | | | | medications you are taking. |
| affect on the person. If the person has adapted to | | | | You, your self may think that you may become |
| the use of a painkiller, then a higher dosage must be | | | | addicted, if that is the case, tell your doctor and he |
| given in order for the drug to work. | | | | may prescribe something else and maybe another |
| Physical dependence is when the body has adapted | | | | way to take it as well. Your friends and family will let |
| to the fact that a drug in present and that you may | | | | you know when they feel that the medications are |
| feel a sense of withdrawal when the drug leaves the | | | | getting out of control. Listen to them, it may mean |
| body. There are drugs that are considered addictive | | | | the difference between an intervention and an out |
| such as Vicodin and Oxycotin and then there are | | | | of control addiction. But there is help; there are |
| drugs such as beta-blockers and corticosteriods that | | | | treatments facilities, meeting you can attend as an |
| are deemed non addictive but the body can be | | | | outpatient. There will always be some one there to |
| physically dependent. Meaning that you can still feel | | | | help you; the trick is not to need it. |
| withdrawals when you stop taking the medications. | | | | Addiction is a disease and people need help in order |
| There is no real way to tell if someone is going to be | | | | to take control and to cure it. Addictions are |
| an addict. People who experience depression, anxiety | | | | dangerous to you physically but mentally as well. |
| and loneliness are said to be people at risk to be | | | | They also hurt the people around you. Here are |
| addicted to some drug or another. That is not to say | | | | some examples of addictive pain medications. |
| that everyone who has taken pain medication has | | | | Codeine, Morphine, Oxycodone, Demerol, Duragesic |
| become addicted because that would not be true. | | | | and Darvon. |
| The important part of medication is to take exactly | | | | |