Abuse of painkillers

Painkillers/analgesics are normally prescribed by doctors to ease pain after an injury or operation. They enable the patient to live an almost normal life by reducing or eliminating the pain.

But people are using the drugs for purposes other than the ones mentioned above. You will often hear someone saying that he took a painkiller because he was feeling stressed or constipated, and that's drug abuse.

Abuse of painkillers can lead to adverse health effects such as addiction and dependency. At this point, the person cannot function properly, or live a normal life without taking the said painkillers.

Continued abuse of painkillers may cause more serious health problems such as;

• Low blood pressure.
• Tissue infection, i.e cellulitis and abscess.
• Drowsiness.
• Frequent fevers.
• Reduced heart rate.
• Slow healing of wounds.

People need to get informed about how misuse of painkillers can damage their health, and consequently shorten their lives.

 

One common denominator in people who struggle with prescription painkillers, especially opioid analgesics, is how their journey began- with a perfectly legitimate prescription for a real injury. Of course, Im not denying that it quickly becomes an addiction for the patient, and patient becomes junkie.
At what point do doctors need to step up and take responsibility for giving out these seriously addictive substances? The vast majority aren't seeking these drugs out recreationally at first, that comes after the doctor stops prescribing the medicine and the patient is already dependent. There must be some middle ground between ibuprofen and fentanyl, why can't they use it?