I Think My Spouse May Be Addicted To His Pain Medication
Legacy signals
Legacy popularity: 1,747 legacy views
Legacy rating: 4.3/5 from 3 archived votes
As a drug counselor, I receive many questions. This next one is typical:
Q: I think my spouse may be addicted to his pain medication. He had knee replacement surgery several months ago and has gone back to work, but says he still needs to take pain pills. I think he is actually taking more now than he did right after the surgery. I'm not sure about all of this, and I don't know what or how to say something. His dad is a recovering alcoholic. I'm worried.
A: This is a tough question.The fact that you're conce
ed and also the mention of his Dad being in recovery does look like a red flag. Pain medications that are prescribed today are often strong narcotics. These drugs are real life-savers in many cases (when used for short periods of time). At the same time, they do have the potential for abuse. In fact, prescription pain-killers like Vicodin and Oxyconton have become the most abused of all prescription medications.
These drugs do two things: they relieve pai
AND create a euphoric high, of sorts. Some people find they like the way the medication makes them "feel" and that is why these drugs have such a high potential for abuse. At some point the body will begin to develop a tolerance--and more of the medication will be needed to get the same effect. At this point it can become difficult to tell if the person is in genuine pain or just the pain of withdrawal. All they may know is, if I take some more pills I feel better. This is not a good thing.
I would talk to your husband about your conce
s. If the situation persists seek some professional advice--sooner rather than later.
Article author
About the Author
Joe Herzanek, a man who battled his own demons of addiction over twenty-five years ago, says, "I know people can change. If I can do it, anyone can!"
A recovering person himself, Joe is the president and founder of Changing Lives Foundation and author of the new book "Why Don't They Just Quit?" As an addiction counselor in Colorado he has spent thirteen years working in the criminal justice system.
His passion for helping men and women struggling with addiction, as well as their family members and friends, inspire him to offer hope and solutions.
Joe offers words of encouragement: "Addiction is not a hopeless situation," he writes. "Addicts and alcoholics aren't crazy, and they can quit."
Joe and his wife Judy have three children, Jami, Jake, and Jessica, and enjoy the beautiful Colorado outdoors with their two Cairn Terriers, Lewis and Clark.
Further reading
Further Reading
Article
Living with an alcoholic – Shame
If you live with an alcoholic you will almost certainly feel shame. Some people will experience it to a very high level others less so but almost everyone who lives with an alcoholic experiences it to some degree. You will probably feel anxious that people will discover your secret, that they will judge you and, inevitably, will find you unacceptable to be around decent people. Seeing it written down like that it probably seems stupid. How could anyone feel that.
Related piece
Article
Myths About Drug Treatment
Myth #1: Drug addiction is voluntary behavior. A person starts out as an occasional drug user, and that is a voluntary decision. But as times passes, something happens, and that person goes from being a voluntary drug user to being a compulsive drug user. Why? Because over time, continued use of addictive drugs changes your brain -- at times in dramatic, toxic ways, at others in more subtle ways, but virtually always in ways that result in compulsive and even uncontrollable drug use. Myth #2: More than anything else, drug addiction is a character flaw.
Related piece
Article
What Do You Do and When
When you have a suspicion your teen is doing drugs, what do you do? First, learn as much as you can. Check out all of SelfGrowth.com for information on drug and alcohol use by teens. Know that there is help available for you and your child. In most communities, you can get help from your pediatrician, nurse, or other health care provider, a counselor at your child's school, or your faith community.
Related piece
Article
Is my partner an alcoholic?
Are you one of many people who live with someone who drinks heavily? Do you wonder whether your partner is an alcoholic. Well you are certainly not alone. For many people living with problem drinkers means agony and confusion wondering whether their partner is actually an alcoholic or whether they are making a fuss about nothing. This is a very real problem for many reasons.
Related piece