re: How do you know when someone is addicted to pain pills?

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1) Takes 4 5x500 oxy pills everyday all be dr's prescription for years 2) Dr "shops" some days takes 40mg-50mg of oxy some days none....but done this for years 3) Buys and sells to fund habit, but has taken same amount for years (40-6o mg day) and a few xanex a day

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#1 would be chemical dependency but not necessarily addiction.
#2 is generally a sign of an addiction, but technically if they are just doing it to have extras to sell , it's illegal but not necessarily a sign of addiction.
#3 is a sign of being "poor" and not necessarily addicted. The fact that they take Xanax with Oxy is a problem though that could be fatal.

The real issue with these 3 signs is that I don't believe the person is taking the same amount every day, and is not doctor shopping just to fund their habit.

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#1 would be chemical dependency but not necessarily addiction. #2 is generally a sign of an addiction, but technically if they are just doing it to have extras to sell , it's illegal but not necessarily a sign of addiction. #3 is a sign of being "poor" and not necessarily addicted. The fact that they take Xanax with Oxy is a problem though that could be fatal.

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Not sure I agree.

Chemical dependency IS addiction (ETA: This is not true, see post below correcting me)

Dr. shopping is a red flag for addiction. A doctor knows how much you can/should be taking, safely, so trying to find other docs to write additional scripts screams addiction.

If someone has a "habit", that's addiction.

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Chemical dependency IS addiction

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Not only are they different - different areas of the brain are responsible for each.

LINK


Addiction vs. Dependency

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Addiction can occur without physical dependence; consider cocaine or methamphetamine both have little outwardly apparent withdrawal syndrome but addiction to either can devastate lives. Non-substance addictions such as gambling, sex or internet also have no physical dependence. What is common to all these addictions is the unnatural cravings that prompt the compulsive behaviors.

Physical dependence can occur without addiction; this is the common experience of most chronic pain patients who are able to take their opioid medication as prescribed for pain but don't develop the uncontrollable compulsion and loss of control. A desire to avoid withdrawal is not addiction.

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Not only are they different - different areas of the brain are responsible for each.

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I stand corrected. Thanks.

It's a common misconception - even the article mentions that "dependence" and "addiction" are often used interchangeably, which adds to the confusion when speaking of chemical dependence or physical dependence.

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physically addicted

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There definitely a difference. I've taken percocet twice in my life for long periods of time due to a back problem. I never wanted to take them but couldn't function pain wise without. The last time was for 6 months and I finally found a Dr that didn't want to just shove pills at me and did a nerve block. After the nerve block I could definitely tell I was physically addicted but just pushed through it for a couple weeks until the withdrawals subsided. At one point I was taking 2-3 percocet 10s 4 times a day. There is no way anyone can take the same amount for years, that's not how it works.

You really need to stop.

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if you have to ask the question, you already know the answer.

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Dr. shopping is a red flag for addiction.

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My sis (no pics for the OT d-bags) has been addicted to Adderall and Ambien for well over 5 years, it's a wonder she's still alive. She had a very lucrative pharmaceutical sales job and during that time, established relationships with multiple credible doctors who, to this day, electronically refill her prescriptions at very pharmacies all across the Dallas area.

As per a thread several months ago @ "when was the last time you had a good cry?".....she is really the only element in my life that I have cried like a baby about.

My wife and I have two awesome (and extremely perceptive) boys, 7 and 10 years old, who asked me after we last saw her: "daddy, it looks like she is about to die, is that true "

I lost it.

Long story short, don't be so naïve about various peoples' definitions of a "pill popper" or an "addict", as they come in many shapes and forms as many on here have said ......use your human instincts and intuition

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I don't know, but the couple of times (post-surgery, kidney stone) that I have been prescribed powerful pain pills, I can see why people get addicted to them.

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Same. They are crazy addictive.

When I had ACL surgery, my #1 priority at my first follow up was getting another percocet Rx. Fortunately, my Dr. would't write another. I would guess most people taking them regularly are already addicted.

Where did you go to medical school?