What is painkiller addiction?

Oxycodone addiction: Is the most common painkiller addiction these days, but all of the opiate and opioid type painkillers are addictive. Pain killers should be taken only for physical pain. All pain killers of this type are highly regulated and by prescription only. Addiction occurs because of misuse or overuse. These medications cause tolerance which means your body needs more to get the same effect over time.

Pain medication: Any pain medication can lead to psychological dependence. Narcotic or opioid pain meds lead to addiction by stimulating portions of the brain that have receptors for opioids. When the drug fills these receptors, the individual experiences intense positive responses that reinforce the desire to use again and again. Use may escalate to get the same or increased pleasurable sensation.

Get help: The Medical University of South Carolina has a very strong Addiction Treatment department run by Dr. Katherine Brady, and they would be a good place to start. Many kinds of treatment are available, depending on what you are using, for what reasons, and for how long. Short and long-term detoxification, drug-free, and maintenance treatments are available, as well as residential programs & NA/AA.