Since the mid 90's, addiction to prescription pain medicine has been on the rise, with numbers nearly doubling between 1994 and 2001. (DAWN Report, Jan '03) In fact, more than 90,000 Emergency Room visits were attributed to opiate analgesic abuse. The risk of becoming addicted to legitimate pain medication is high, and certain measures should be taken in order to avoid the "Prescription for pain" that could come along with taking opiate analgesics.

It is suspected that between ten and forty percent of patients with chronic pain abuse their pain medication. Abuse is defined as taking the medication other than prescribed and/or for any other reason than to relieve pain. Addiction becomes more likely when taken more often than prescribed.

The best way to avoid addiction is to never take any more than the doctor tells you to or more often than directed. If the bottle says take one every four to six hours as needed for pain, then do so. If pain does not return in four to six hours, do not take any more, as this would be an indication that you are abusing the drug.

When taken as prescribed, pain medication addiction rates are low. However, over a period of time that is different for each individual, the patients body will become dependent on opiate pain medication and tolerance will occur. At that time it is up to the patient to talk to their doctor about different treatment options.

Learn more about this author, Phill Roby.
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