Addiction Medicine

Addicted? YOU ARE NOT ALONE

People who are prescribed opioids for pain find that they can be very effective medicines. Maybe you had an an injury in the past. Those pain medications most likely brought you a great deal of relief. They allowed you to function and do the things that allowed your injuries to heal. Unfortunately, over time you find that you need to take more to feel relief. Is the need to take more because of physical reasons or has it now become a mental and emotional dependence? Maybe it is a little bit of both? As your injuries are healing, your doctor is now talking about decreasing your use of these pain medications. You find yourself scared about this idea and become anxious.

Sound familiar? Scenarios like these happen more often then most people think. This one example could be an experience of your teacher, parent, spouse, or friend. If you feel that you or someone you know is suffering from dependence on opioids and pain pills you will be glad to know there is help. Getting off opioids can be difficult, but there are resources that make it easier.

Opioid dependence—addiction to opioid prescription painkillers, such as OxyContin®, Vicodin®, Percocet®, Actiq®*, and others, or to heroin—is more common than people think. In fact, opioid dependence affects men and women of all ages, races, ethnic groups, and educational levels. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), in 2008:

Approximately 2 million Americans were dependent on opioid prescription painkillers or heroin. An estimated 4.75 million people aged 12 and older misused prescription painkillers.
Approximately 213,000 people used heroin.



With so many people affected, you know you are not alone with your problem.
Share your story of successes and frustrations on your path to recovery! We will share our own too!           
Call or contact Northwest Gentle Detox and our Northwest Suboxone Treatment Program to begin a new and healthier path to life, free from dependence on pain pills.

photo thanks to shabbysho: http://www.flickr.com/x/t/0094009/photos/teesha/4294878530/