Taken As Prescribed, Addiction Risk Is Low

Main Category: Pain / Anesthetics
Also Included In: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Article Date: 05 Mar 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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The abuse of prescription pain medication in the United States appears to be on the increase. Michael Hooten, M.D., Director of the Pain Rehabilitation Center at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, answers questions on pain medication misuse and addiction in an interview in the March issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource.

How common is addiction to pain medication? Some estimates say that 10 percent to 40 percent of people with chronic pain misuse opioids -- narcotic pain medications such as hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab); morphine; oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone); hydromorphone (Dilaudid); meperidine (Demerol); and methadone. Women, especially, should be aware of the risks, because they are more likely than are men to seek treatment for chronic pain.

What's the difference between medication misuse and addiction? Misuse is taking a pain medication for a purpose other than pain relief -- such as to aid sleep or ease anxiety. In addiction, people use a drug for its mood-altering or euphoric effects, even when the result creates problems with relationships and obligations at home, work or school.

How can patients avoid addiction? If misuse is addressed in a quick and forthright manner, there's very little chance addiction will become a problem. When patients take pain medication as prescribed, the risk of abuse will more than likely be minimal.

Over time, people do become dependent on opioids and may require increased dosages to achieve the same level of pain management. At that point, patients should talk with their doctor about dosage changes or other treatment options.

Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic.

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