One of the most frequent reasons people go to the doctor is for pain relief. There are a number of different drugs that can ease pain. About 20% of people will get a medication called an opioid. You could also hear your doctor call it an opiate or a narcotic. These pain relievers are made from opium, which comes from the poppy plant. Morphine and codeine are the two natural products of opium.
Individuals who take a prescription medication long-term for the treatment of pain or other ailments often struggle to determine if their use has gone from a medical solution to a physical dependency or addiction which requires treatment. Addiction is defined as a person being physically and mentally dependent on a particular substance where the user is unable to stop taking it for any length of time without experiencing adverse effects. Check out the silent signs of this addiction!
