Painkiller addiction generally begins when people who abuse other drugs to which they have easy access, sometimes, at fantasy parties. Clinical data in hospitals and addiction centres show that 26 per cent of substance abuse victims are addicted to opioids, 76 per cent to buprenorphine, proposyphene, sedatives, amphetamines, morphine and pethidine.
Mostly found among males, drug abuse is also rising among females and children. Dr Sunil T. Pandya, medical director at Century Super specialty Hospital explained, “Medical conditions like chronic pain, pancreatic pain, cancer pain, etc. does not usually lead to drug abuse as they are prescribed by the qualified physicians. However, unsupervised intake of these medicines can lead to addiction.”
As an effect of substance abuse, victims seeks physical and psychological dependence and it leads to disinterest, loss of well-being, emotional liability and impairs memory. It weakens the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infections. Further, IV ingestion can lead to infection in the blood vessels and heart valves. It also affects liver and in extreme cases, can cause liver failure. It can cause seizures, stroke and sometimes permanent brain damage.
Dr Pandya explained, “Drug abuse is not restricted to only painkillers but to multiple drug addiction. The medical fraternity has for long been demanding that narcotic analgesics should be restricted to hospitals having narcotic license only and show follow close vigil maintaining meticulous record and documentation of its usage and discard.”
The medical fraternity has also been stating that the physician should dispense medication for short durations only and the patient has to be evaluated for psychological dependency early and must be put on non-abusive analgesics. At the same time, patients and the family members should be educated about the signs and symptoms of drug abuse as it is very important to opt for early treatment in deaddiction centres.
Withdrawal symptoms of painkillers
- Restlessness
- Muscle and bone pain
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Diarrhoea and vomiting
- Cold flashes with goose bumps
- Involuntary leg movements
- Respiratory problems
- Kidney problems
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Analgesic to take a toll on the spine (Dr K. Shiva Raju)
The pain receptors in the spinal chord are affected due to the use of painkillers. It has been found that once these receptors are affected, there is further use of painkillers which leads to the addiction. Dr K. Shiva Raju, senior consultant physician and head of family medicine at the Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences explained, “The problem seen in clinical practice is that people take painkillers without getting themselves checked for the exact cause of pain. In clinical practice, we have detected addiction among 20 to 30 per cent of the patients, a large number of them middle-aged and elderly who do not realise its side-effects.” Painkillers are becoming a big addiction among patients who require to be counselled about the misuse. Often, one looks at the relief aspect of the medicine and that is their priority.
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