The Addictive Nature of Opioids | Non-Opioid Options for Pain Management
We all experience pain—sometimes more significantly than others. When pain is the result of a traumatic accident, it can initially be intense but then go away within a reasonable time. Some pain, though, becomes chronic, lasting days, weeks, months, or even years, making it difficult to engage in even the simplest of activities, such as sitting, standing, walking, or even sleeping. When pain is part of your life, you might look for a pharmaceutical solution, a pill that can help you function normally. That’s a risky endeavor, though, as many of the most effective pain medications, including those classified as opioids, can be highly addictive.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are pharmaceutical products either derived from, or replicating, the natural substances found in the opium poppy plant. Opioids activate certain nerve cells in your body known as opioid receptors, which interrupt the signals sent from your body to your brain and back. Accordingly, they can be highly effective in treating chronic pain. Common examples of opioids include heroin, morphine, codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, and fentanyl.
What Are the Potential Risks of Addiction to Opioids?
Opioids spur the release of endorphins into your body, which produces a feeling of euphoria. While the feeling can be powerful, it’s typically short-lived. While you’re feeling that uplift, you may either feel no pain or simply not care that you’re in pain. When the drug wears off, the pain often returns. That can lead you to take more of the opioid. Over time, your body can develop a tolerance, requiring more and more opioids to mask your pain. The American Medical Association estimates that nearly one out of every five people prescribed opioids are at risk of developing an addiction.
What Are Non-Opioid Alternatives for the Treatment of Chronic Pain?
According to the CDC, there are a number of pharmaceutical alternatives to opioids for the treatment of persistent pain, including acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and gabapentin, an anticonvulsant. The CDC also recommends topical agents that include lidocaine or capsaicin, as well as serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). Non-pharmacological options include physical therapy, controlled weight loss, and exercise. The efficacy of any of these treatment options will vary, depending on the person, as well as the cause and intensity of the pain.
