Pain and addiction are problems that can fuel each other. If you are concerned that someone in your life who struggles with chronic pain could be headed toward addiction or that their recovery could be endangered by chronic pain, it is important to learn more about the connection between these two issues, so that you can offer them help and compassion.
At Safe Harbor Recovery Center, in Portsmouth, Virginia, we want family and friends to have the information they need to support their loved ones who are struggling with chronic pain. September is Pain Awareness Month, so this seems like a great time to share this information.
Facts About Pain
Chronic pain is a problem for many people in the United States. In fact:
- 20 percent of adults in the United States experience chronic pain that lasts more than six months.
- When people experience chronic pain and addiction together, their treatment for one may support their recovery from the other or create bigger issues. Medication is one example. Some prescriptions that are used to treat chronic pain are not recommended for people with a history of substance use disorders.
- Patients who misuse their pain medications are at increased risk for addiction or relapse.
- Untreated pain also places people at risk for substance misuse, as they may seek to self-medicate the pain.
- Pain and negative emotions reinforce each other. This includes physical and social pain. The isolation that is caused by addiction and chronic pain makes both conditions worse.
The Overlap Between Pain and Addiction
Chronic pain and addiction have a lot in common:
- Both involve a central nervous system that is not working as intended/desired.
- Both can be impacted by genetics and environment.
- Both can have behavioral components.
- Both have the potential for serious, harmful consequences if they are not treated effectively.
- Both may require treatment from multiple angles at the same time.
- Both can result in insomnia, depression, and impaired functioning
Pain and the Opioid Crisis
Years ago, opioids were prescribed far more often, for both acute and chronic pain. This added fuel to the opioid epidemic, as people needed more and more medication to handle their pain. Opioids not only become less effective over time, but they can actually make people more sensitive to pain, basically leading to a worse problem than the person had to begin with. This has led to doctors becoming more cautious about prescribing opioids.
Best Practices for Pain Management
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommends that.
- All pain assessments include a screening and assessment. This includes active substance use, family history of addiction, and recovery from addiction.
- Pain management focuses on non-medication options first, then medications that aren’t opioids, before considering any controlled substances.
- Pain management specialists should be providing patient education so that patients with chronic pain understand their risks related to addiction.
- It is ideal for the pain management provider to get permission from the patient, so they can talk with others in the patient’s life, who can support them with managing their pain effectively and monitor for signs of emerging behavioral health concerns. This may include family members, pharmacists, or other health professionals.
Non-Medication Options for Pain Management
Nonpharmacological treatments for chronic pain frequently include one or more of the following:
- Physical therapy (PT) increases range of motion, strength, and body functioning
- Therapeutic exercise increases strength, balance, and flexibility, improves posture and overall well-being, helps to reduce lower back, neck, and fibromyalgia pain, and can reduce anxiety and depression symptoms
- Talk therapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), is effective in treating pain associated with low back, spine, and chronic neck pain by reducing pain, emotional distress, depression, and anxiety
- Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) includes strategies not typically used in conventional Western medicine, such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, and massage therapy
Signs of Medication Misuse
If you are concerned that someone in your life could be misusing pain medications, you should look for the following red flags:
- Using more than prescribed
- Using longer than prescribed
- Personality changes
- Social isolation
- More time spent on obtaining medications
- Changes in appearance
- Not meeting responsibilities at home, school, or work
- Increased pain sensitivity
- Blackouts and memory issues
There may be additional side effects, specific to the types of medications they are misusing.
At Safe Harbor Recovery Center, we are dedicated to helping each client we serve find the treatment strategies that work best for them and their unique needs. This includes patients who struggle with chronic pain.