With the uprising of the opioid crisis, pain medication is landing front in center as a concern of many Americans. Too many overdoses have occurred due to opioids, and the government is working to enact a plan to educate the communicate on the dangers of misusing these drugs, as well as the importance of either staying away from or highly monitoring prescription medications that are highly addictive. No matter your reason for taking pain relievers, these are the medications you should be most concerned of due to their addictive properties:
- Fentanyl: This synthetic opioid is the cause of Prince’s overdose, and it’s far more powerful – 50 to 100 times stronger, to be exact – than drugs like heroin or morphine. Even a small dose could be fatal.
- Oxycodone: Sold commonly as Oxycontin, these drugs are prescribed by doctors approximately 6 million times as year, and they change the way the brain and central nervous system respond to pain. This drug is extremely addictive, because it derived from opiates and is like heroin and morphine.
- Meperidine: This drug can cause life-threatening breathing problems during the first 24 to 72 hours of your treatment, or any time that your dosage is increased, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- Hydromorphone: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a black box warning on this drug, meaning that it’s effect can be deadly. Serious breathing problems, dangerous combinations such as taking it with alcohol or other opioids, misuse, overdose, and withdrawal in newborn babies are just a few risks that go along with this medication. This drug is very potent, meaning that it is more concentrated than other drugs, making it more dangerous.
Always be very cautious with what you’re taking. Speak with your doctor to fully understand the dosage that is required and stick to it – nothing more, nothing less. Never mix your medications with other prescriptions, alcohol, or drugs. If you ever experience any symptoms that are of concern, seek medical attention immediately.
If you’re seeking a mental health and/or substance abuse recovery treatment center, call us today at 888-958-7511. Avalon Malibu is a world-renowned, California state-licensed treatment center with licensed, experienced professionals who care about your recovery. We have a variety of methods that we can try with you to see what works and will help you develop a customized treatment plan to best suit your needs. Make the decision to place your health and happiness as top priority, and call us for a consultation.
