Managing chronic pain with opioids raises your addiction risk, study says

By Oluwasola Samuel, Freelance writer. Medically reviewed by. Chinedu Akpa, B. Pharm.

Highlights

• Nearly 1 in 10 people who use opioids for chronic pain end up with opioid use disorder.

• Almost 1 in 3 exhibit symptoms of dependence and

• Nearly 1 in 5 exhibit odd behaviours like seeking early refills, increasing doses without doctor’s approval, or frequently losing prescriptions.

• The odd behaviours are early warning signs of opioid use disorder.

Living with chronic pain can be a tough nut to crack for most people. If you are living with chronic pain, it’s normal to seek strong painkillers (opioids) for quick relief. The sad truth is that over time, your dependence on strong painkillers for relief could turn into an addiction, opioid addiction.

As many people globally have become addicted after short or long term use of opioids, and this has caused them grave social, physical and mental health problems, it is important to know what opioids are, and what the risk of opiod addiction look likes. 

Opioids are drugs that work in special ways to block pain messages (signals) reaching the brain and spinal cord while boosting pleasurable feelings. This combination makes opiods both beneficial and dangerous.

Common examples of opioids include heroin, morphine, codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, tramadol, and many others like fentanyl.

Although these drugs can be prescribed for human use by medical professionals, their sale, distribution and use are highly controlled by health authorities in many countries because of their high risk of addiction. 

Addiction is a chronic condition that can affect many aspects of your life, including your physical and mental health, relationships and career,

Indeed, a recent study has shed new light above what was previously known, on the scope of addiction risks from opioid use in the management of chronic pain. 

What the study revealed

The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Bristol, UK. It analysed 148 studies involving over 4.3 million adults and paints a clearer picture of how widespread opioid addiction is among chronic pain patients. 

The reason why this study is worth noting is that it provides an accurate and clearer picture compared to what a pharmaceutical company once reported (that fewer than 1% of opioid prescriptions lead to problems for patients).

However, the review clarifies that the risk is much higher than earlier reported earlier. Sadly, nearly 1 in 10 (10%) of patients who use opioids for chronic pain end up with opioid use disorder. 

Almost 1 in 3 (30%) exhibit symptoms of dependence and nearly 1 in 5 (22%) exhibit odd behaviours like seeking early refills, increasing doses without doctor’s approval, or frequently losing prescriptions. These behaviours are early warning signs that opioid use is no longer about pain relief but about avoiding the negative effects of withdrawal. 

The study clearly shows that opioid medications can bring temporary relief, but they can slip you into addiction.

How pain management with opioids can lead to addiction

When you are in constant pain, it's normal to find an easy way to manage the pain through opioid medication. 

Here is where this gets tricky. 

When you take opioid painkillers over time, your body develops a tolerance to the medication. This means you may need higher doses to get the same relief you desire to help you function normally. Over time, this can result in opioid use disorder or addiction, which can have a damaging effect on your health, work, relationships, and overall well-being. 

Long-term complications of opioid painkillers 

The long-term use of opioid painkillers affects you severely. It takes a mental and physical toll on your well-being. Aside from your body developing tolerance to opioid usage, your body can begin to exhibit health complications like respiratory issues, depression, and drug overdose. On the mental side, it can cause you devastating emotional stress, which can affect your relationships, work, and mental well-being.

If you or your loved ones are managing chronic pain with opioid painkillers, you need to understand the risks that opioid addiction poses on your mental and physical well-being. It’s easy to get addicted and dependent on opioid painkillers, especially when there is an urgent need to get relief. However, you can explore other chronic pain treatment options that are non-addictive. You can manage your pain without falling victim to the risks of opioid use.

Safer solutions for pain management

Opioids seem like the go-to solution for chronic pain, but it’s important to explore other non-addictive pain management options. 

Opioid alternatives are available and they can help you manage your chronic pain condition without the risks of any kind of addiction. These options include specialised physical exercises, chiropractic care, surgery, just to mention a few. 

Managing chronic pain without medication may seem tough, but it's possible. You need to work closely with your healthcare providers to help you carefully develop a pain management plan that doesn't involve opioid intake. These other opioid alternatives could prove to be rewarding in the long run without any form of addiction.

Conclusion

Living with chronic pain and managing it can be a long journey, and how you manage it will shape your quality of life. While opioids may offer you easy and quick relief, the risks of addiction from opioid usage are high. The risk affects a significant portion of chronic pain patients. However, other chronic pain treatment options do not involve addictive substances (opioids). These pain management options provide lasting relief without compromising your health.

Remember that while painkillers may offer you an easy or quick fix, your ultimate goal should be to find a non-addictive, sustainable, and safe pain management option that doesn’t compromise your well-being in the long run.

Sources:

1. Thomas KH, Dalili MN, Cheng HY, Dawson S, Donnelly N, Higgins JPT, Hickman M. Prevalence of problematic pharmaceutical opioid use in patients with chronic non-cancer pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Addiction. [Internet]. 07 August 2024.  Doi: 10.1111/add.16616. Available from here.

2. Dydyk AM, Jain NK, Gupta M. Opioid Use Disorder. [Updated 2024 Jan 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from here. :

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Published: September 24, 2024

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