Opioids, also known as pain medications, are some of the most abused types of prescription medications, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Many people rely on pain killers to relieve pain after surgeries or to manage pain due to health issues. These medications can become addictive when they're used inappropriately. Someone who takes pain medication in larger doses than indicated by the doctor or takes them without a prescription may be addicted to opioids.
Tolerance and Withdrawal
One sign that a person has a pain medication addiction is that she needs to take more and more of the medication to feel its effects. When someone uses pain medication on a regular basis, her body requires more of the drug to provide pain relief. Also, someone addicted to pain medication will probably experience withdrawal symptoms if she hasn't recently taken any medication. NIDA reports that withdrawal symptoms from pain killers include restlessness, stomach issues, muscle and bone pain, and involuntary leg movements.
Changes in Mood
Someone who has recently taken pain medication might seem happy, calm and relaxed. However, once the drug wears off, the person might become irritable and angry. The person might seem to be happy one minute and irritable the next. If you're a family member or friend of someone who's addicted to opioids, you probably never know what to expect with that person.
Occupational and Social Signs
People who abuse pain medication usually have relational problems at work as well as with friends and family members. The person might use pain killers at work, skip work or go to work late due to using. Someone abusing pain medication may not turn in projects on time, which could lead to being demoted or fired. The person might withdraw from friends and family members. She might not answer or return phone calls, stop going to her weekly tennis game with her friends and push people away when they express concern. She'll continue to use opioids even though they are having a significant, negative impact on her life.
Daily Habits
When someone is addicted to drugs, his first priority is to get the drugs and use them. Other things, such as personal hygiene, take a back seat, so he might wear the same outfit three days in a row and not shower for four or five days. If your coworker usually comes to work dressed professionally with good hygiene and his appearance suddenly changes in a negative way, it could be due to drug abuse or another mental health issue.
