Opiate abuse occurs when people use painkillers outside of the guidelines a doctor sets for prescriptions. Often, people need these medications due to a serious injury or disease that’s left them in pain. Yet, over time, the body can form dependence and addiction to these drugs, especially when opioid abuse takes place. Our goal at Serenity Light Recovery is to help you overcome this sometimes life-threatening addiction. That starts with knowing what the most commonly abused painkillers are.
The Most Commonly Abused Painkillers
Opioids of all types can lead to addiction when misused. These commonly abused painkillers may include both prescriptions written for you as well as medications obtained illicitly without a prescription.
- Codeine – This includes Tylenol with codeine, Fiorinal with codeine, and Empirin with codeine. These drugs are sometimes called schoolboy, Cody, or Capitan Cody.
- Methadone – This includes methadose and Dolophine. Nicknames for the drug include frizzies, amidone, and sometimes chocolate chip cookies when mixed with MDMA.
- Morphine – This painkiller is sometimes called Roxanol and Duramorph. Street names of the drug include Miss Emma, monkey, M, or white stuff.
- Fentanyl – These drugs are highly dangerous. Prescription names include Actiq, Duragesic, and Sublimaze. The street names for this drug include Apache, dance fever, TNT, Tango and Cash, murder 8, and China girl.
- Oxycodone HCL – Also sold as Tylox, Oxycontin, Percocet, or Percodan. Street names for this drug include Oxy, Oxycotton, percs, and hillbilly heroin.
- Hydrocodone Bitartrate Hydromorphone – Prescription names include Vicodin, Lorcet, and Lortab. Nicknames include Watson-387 and Vike.
- Oxymorphone – Also sold as Dilaudid. This drug is sometimes called smack, juice, or dillies.
Why Are These Commonly Abused Painkillers a Problem?
Opioid abuse is dangerous for several reasons. When a person uses these drugs, they interact with the function of the brain. Their primary goal is to reduce pain signals received by the central nervous system, helping to limit any feeling of pain. These drugs also trigger the pleasure center of the brain. This creates a euphoric feeling, helping a person to relax. It is this feel-good experience that draws a person back to using the drug repeatedly.
Over time, dependence forms. This occurs when the brain’s chemistry is changed so much so that it cannot function without it. This is evidenced by intense cravings that lead to compulsively seeking out the drug. It can also cause physical dependence. That leads to bone and muscle pain, headaches, insomnia, and other withdrawal symptoms when the drug is not available.
Tolerance can also form. That leads to the need to use more of the drug to get the same feeling. Over time, this can increase the risk of an overdose. Because opioids slow down the function of the central nervous system, they also slow down the function of the heart and lungs. This can lead to a lack of oxygen getting to the brain, creating a life-threatening overdose.
What Can a Drug Rehab Do to Help?
In our drug rehab program for opioids, it’s possible to break free from addiction and dependence. That doesn’t mean you have to live with pain. Holistic solutions are available. If you find yourself unable to stop using these drugs, it’s not your fault. Yet, it is necessary to get professional help. During treatment, we’ll work with you to break the dependence and heal damage. Some of our treatment programs include:
- Drug detox programs
- Residential treatment programs
- Outpatient rehab programs
- Intensive outpatient program
- Extended care treatment programs
Choose Treatment Today – Call Serenity Light Recovery
If you are using commonly abused painkillers like these, and you cannot stop doing so, call Serenity Light Recovery. Allow our team to help you through opiate abuse through a comprehensive, modern drug rehab. To learn more, call (281) 431-6700 or connect online.
As our CEO, Heather’s main calling is to stay true to the vision of the organization, which is saving lives and striving to redefine statistics by raising the standard of care with evolving treatment methods. Heather studied psychology at LSU and both the main and Clear Lake campuses of the University of Houston, and she is a certified IASIS provider and CPI instructor. She’s been helping people in recovery since 2011. Heather’s motto to live by is “I am not what I’ve done; I am what I’ve overcome.”
