Will I become an Addict?
Addiction means a dependency on drugs obtained in an illegal manner and has nothing to do with prescription treatment for pain. You do not become an addict from receiving strong painkilling medication. Among true addicts, it is hard to find someone who began their addiction in connection with treatment for pain.
Under certain circumstances, strong painkilling remedies can create physical and mental dependency.
Physical dependency
The physical dependency appears when you stop taking painkilling medication because withdrawal symptoms develop. This is almost always seen after 6 weeks of treatment with stronger painkilling medication. Withdrawals consists of a range of unpleasant reactions like cold sweats, goosebumps, shaking, diarrhoea, tensions and not least increased pain. The nuisances lasts for a shorter or longer period, until the body has gotten used to being without painkilling medication. Withdrawals are easy to treat. A gradual withdrawal from the painkilling medication lessens the withdrawal symptoms, since the body is given longer time to get used to being without painkilling medication. Physical dependency is not a sign of abuse or addiction – It is a normal phenomenon.
Mental dependency
Mental dependency is the urge to use strong painkilling medication to have a pleasurable sensation (‘the rush’) and not just soothe the pain. Mental dependency can lead to an actual abuse. In the case of use of depot medication, the risk of mental dependency is smallest.
It is the doctor’s job to prevent addiction from arising. The risk of addiction when using strong painkilling remedies is extremely low and in the case of a brief treatment, it is not existing.
With cancer patients who are incurable it is meaningless to talk about a risk of addiction – cancer patients should always be ensured of a good treatment of their pains.