In regards to pain killer addiction?

Question

One of my patients asked me how do you know when you are addicted to pain killers and / or benzodiazepines. How long does it take to become addicted. I need to take a course in addictions but honestly have not. Personal experiences would be helpful as well as allopathic methods of eliminating the addiction.

I don’t deal with addiction at all. I work in a critical care environment. A patient asked me a simple question. I could have given the same answer as you. I wanted to hear from people who have been that situation. I am not a Vet, an RN, no courses in Addiction. Hopefully no more cynical answers

Answer 1

Addiction is characterized by a compulsion to continue doing something, be it a drug or behavior, even when doing so adversely affects your health and well-being. Constantly thinking about the "something", spending significant amounts of time pursuing, obtaining, or doing it, and lying about the time you spend doing those things or hiding the fact that you are doing them are also chracteristics of addiction.

Answer 2

Anytime a person takes pain meds beyond the dosage indicated is usually abusing them. I know from personal experience that Vicodin(for an example) can be very addictive, due to the fact that the effects wear off after a time and an increase of dosage to kill the pain usually leads to the addiction.

Answer 3

What kind of doctor are you? A vet?
Get real - if you think you have an addiction, go get help. Don't try and figure it out on Yahoo.
If you think you do, you probably do.
P.S. no offense to vets, it's just that their patients can't talk

Answer 4

You know you are addicted when it affects your everyday life, such as work or family. also when you know the consequences and you still do it.