Reports of the rise of the use of prescription painkillers are increasing. Opiate medications are one of the most-prescribed types of drugs today. Although there are significant valid reasons for taking pain treatment medicine, the use of opiate drugs for non-medical uses is on the rise sometimes with fatal results.
High Tolerance Can Lead to Overdose
Doctors are often put in a difficult position when it comes to treating pain. Medical literature suggests pain management should include the measured and careful use of narcotic medications so that patients do not experience unnecessary pain for chronic conditions. However, narcotic drugs almost automatically result in increased tolerance for these medications, leading to patients needing higher and higher doses to achieve pain relief. Unfortunately, this pattern can lead to addiction problems for patients seeking pain relief for valid reasons.
For individuals who are not using opiate medicine for pain relief, the problem can be even greater. Narcotics are well known as a drug of choice for many drug addicts. Since their use is not monitored by a doctor, they may be taking higher and higher amounts of the medication, seeking the same high that was achieved at a lower dose.
Regardless of whether a person is using narcotic medications to treat a valid pain condition or if they are using them as an illicit drug user, death from drug overdose is a serious potential risk. By using larger and larger doses of the drug, users may take more than their tolerance level and unintentionally overdose and die.
– The Alternative Daily
