Talk to your doctor about treatment for addiction or call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations national help line: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit www.samhsa.gov.
One of the fastest growing epidemics in the United States today is prescription pain medication misuse. Opioids, a class of narcotic pain medications prescribed by doctors and filled at pharmacies, are a large contributor to this epidemic. Some examples of opioids are oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl. While opioids are often medically necessary; misuse, abuse, and addiction are becoming wide spread.
Signs of Addiction
- Stealing or borrowing pills
- Lying about lost pills to obtain more
- Mood swings—constant irritability
- Forgetting or being distracted
- Stealing money to buy drugs
- Being dishonest to family and friends
- Losing a job or failing in school
- Losing motivation or productivity
- Staying away from home overnight or for several days
- Decreased inhibitions—doing things that they typically would not do
- Puncture marks on hands and arms or wearing long sleeves during hot weather to hide arms
- Appearing sedated or lethargic
- Changes in appetite and often sick with flu-like symptoms
How to Talk to a Loved One About Prescription Opioids
- Talk to children and family members about taking only medicine that is prescribed to them and to never share medications with others.
- Explain that prescription medications are not safer than street drugs and misusing them can lead to addiction and can be life threatening.
- Explain how accidental overdose can occur:
- Taking more pills or more frequently than prescribed
- Mixing pills with alcohol or other medications
References
This information is from the AMA Alliance. To access the entire brochure, please visit the AMA website.