Are you Chemically Dependent?
Opioid dependence—addiction to opioid prescription painkillers such as OxyContin®, Vicodin®, Percocet®, Actiq®,* or to heroin—can reset the brain’s chemistry to think the drug is necessary for survival. When your brain tells you that you can’t live without a drug, it can quickly lead to compulsive drug-seeking behavior. Because opioid dependence is a medical condition, it can be treated effectively with medication-assisted treatment combined with counseling and support. Don’t let shame or stigma get in the way of getting the help you need. People with other chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma also benefit from medical treatment combined with behavioral changes.
Have you experienced 3 or more of these over a 12-month period?
Have you experienced 3 or more of these over a 12-month period?
- Needing to take more of the drug to get the same effect—or getting a lesser effect from the same amount of drug
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using opioid, or taking other drugs to help relieve withdrawal symptoms
- Taking larger amounts of opioid than planned, and for longer periods of time
- Persistently wanting to quit, or trying unsuccessfully to quit
- Spending a lot of time and effort to obtain, use, and recover from taking opioid
- Working less, missing work, or, if unemployed, not seriously looking for a job
- Spending less time seeing friends who don’t use opioid; skipping recreational activities
- Continuing to use opioid despite negative consequences