Manage pain without falling into addiction

Opioid addiction or substance abuse can happen to anyone, and unintentionally. Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a significant public health issue that affects millions of people worldwide.

“It can start with a single prescription,” cautions Dr. Hishita Parikh, addiction medicine physician at Aurora Health Care. “Addiction is an illness, not a character flaw. Having fame, money and/or an academic degree doesn’t mean you are in the clear.”

Common prescription opioids are oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, hydromorphone, codeine and tramadol.

How to prevent an opioid addiction

1. Know the risks and signs

It’s important to understand the potential for opioid dependence, follow prescribed dosages, and safely store and dispose opioids to prevent misuse by others. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration are great educational resources.

2. Partner with your doctor

When you are on opioids, it’s important to see your health care provider regularly so they can assess your pain level and adjust your treatment plan as needed. Typically, they will prescribe the lowest effective dose necessary to treat your pain, even for short-term opioid use.

Dr. Parikh says prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) are another benefit of closely partnering with your health care provider since it helps reduce opioid prescriptions, opioid-related hospital stays and emergency room visits.

“PDMPs help make sure opioids are prescribed appropriately and identify patients who need closer monitoring or transitioning from their current dosage to a reduction, weaning or alternative treatment,” Dr. Parikh says.

3. Vary your pain management

Those with chronic pain or postpartum pain are at higher risk of developing an opioid addiction due to the lengthier treatment typically needed to relieve pain.

To avoid opioid reliance yet still manage your pain, Dr. Parikh says a multi-faceted approach is recommended, including medication, physical therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. She recommends starting with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen, followed by less than a week’s supply of low dose short-acting opioids, if needed.

Other effective non-medicine pain management options include exercise, nutritional counseling, mindfulness, acupuncture, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulations (TENS unit), and individual and group therapy.

4. Get the addiction support you need

Dr. Parikh says your health care provider can provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT), such as buprenorphine or methadone, which support recovery by easing withdrawal symptoms and reducing risk of relapse. Your health care provider may also connect you to recovery resources, such as support groups.

5. Put safety first

If you are currently taking opioids, having access to naloxone is extremely important. This life-saving medication reverses an opioid overdose, which often are accidental. Naloxone is commonly free through county or city health departments, hospitals, community events or local dispensers.

By following these preventive measures, you can decrease your risk of developing an opioid addiction and help put an end to the public health crisis.

Are you or a loved one struggling with substance abuse? Find treatment in Illinois or Wisconsin.