Painkillers

For many drug addicts today, their first taste of addiction was through abusing marijuana or prescription painkillers. One in ten high school seniors in the U.S. admit to abusing prescription painkillers because of their easy accessibility, either through direct prescriptions or taking those belonging to a parent or friend. While one may not think they’re addicted to painkillers, especially when there are so many “worse” drugs out there like heroin and crack cocaine, painkillers can still lead to dependence and produce the same withdrawal symptoms that heroin does.

If you’re addicted to painkillers and tired of having your life controlled by drugs, call Freedom Detox. Our detox team in Charlotte provides a welcoming, open space for you to detox safely and begin taking the steps needed to live independently. The time is now.

Types of Painkillers

There are many painkillers out there, but most pain-relieving medications fall into several categories.

Painkiller types include:

• Non-opioid painkillers: Available both at pharmacies and through prescriptions, these include paracetamol and are the most common types of painkillers. They treat mild to moderate pain, such as headaches.
• Anti-inflammatory drugs: Known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, these include painkillers like ibuprofen and naproxen and can be used to treat mild to moderate pain including menstrual cramps.
• Compound painkillers: This occurs when two drugs are combined into one – this can be a painkiller paired with an NSAID, or an opioid with a non-opioid painkiller. One example is cocodamol, a combination of paracetamol and codeine. These also treat mild to moderate pain such as injuries or osteoarthritis.
• Opioid painkillers: These are only available by prescription and are highly addictive, including painkillers like codeine, tramadol, and morphine. They’re the strongest kind of painkillers.