Painkillers are helpful for people who deal with serious pain and discomfort that disrupts their ability to live a normal lifestyle. Doctors today try to limit the number of prescriptions they hand out for habit-forming types of pain relief, but it is still possible to develop an addiction when you use them to treat a health condition. Some people also get addicted to painkillers that they purchase on the street in an effort to feel better emotionally or to get some sleep. Since many people use prescription drugs, it can often be hard to tell if someone has developed an addiction. If you find yourself wondering if your spouse is hiding a painkiller addiction, then it is possible that you’ve already picked up on a few signs that they are misusing their prescription. Exploring how to find out for sure and what to do about it helps you do your part to preserve your spouse’s health and your relationship.
A dependency on painkillers often develops through several stages. Using pain pills for non-medical purposes is one of the first signs that your spouse is vulnerable to having an addiction. They may continue to use their prescription pills even after their pain is healed in an effort to relax. Or, they may say that using their pills helps them to deal with their anxiety. At the point that someone is using the prescription in a way that it isn’t meant to treat, they’re stepping into dangerous territory. Misusing painkillers is the next stage, and you might notice that your spouse takes multiple pills when they should only take one. Or, they may start spacing their does too close together. If they don’t stop misusing their pills, then you might see them display these common signs of a painkiller addiction.
•doctor shopping or seeking multiple prescriptions
•lying about symptoms to keep getting more drugs
•purchasing pills off the street when they run out of their prescription
•losing interest in trying new methods to treat pain naturally
•exhibiting mood changes
•secretive behaviors such as hiding pills or stealing from other people
Help Your Spouse Avoid the Consequences of a Painkiller Addiction
At some point, you’re going to need to talk to your spouse about your suspicions so that they don’t continue to place their health and livelihood at risk. People who misuse painkillers may end up in trouble with the law if they try to purchase pills illegally. Or, your loved one might begin to develop health consequences from taking too many pills. For example, painkillers can also cause liver damage over time, or your loved one could overdose on strong opiates if they take too many pills at once. Living with someone who is putting their life in jeopardy is scary, but you do have options for making the behavior stop.
The most common way to confront someone who is misusing painkillers is to draw attention to their behavior. At first, you might try speaking privately with your spouse to see if they’ll admit to misusing painkillers. If you try this method, then make sure to use a non-judgmental tone that encourages them to open up. If talking to them doesn’t work, then you might need to plan an intervention. This could involve having their physician talk to them about why they can’t continue prescribing painkillers, or you might need to pull a team of your loved ones together to talk about what they’ve noticed with your spouse. You’ll also want to make sure to have information about how to get treatment ready during your talks. If your spouse admits to struggling with painkillers, then acting quickly by getting them into a treatment center is the best way to help them stop misusing them.
Are you almost certain that your spouse is hiding a painkiller addiction? We know what it is like to worry. Give us a call today at 833-497-3812 to start finding a way to get your spouse some help.