Risks of Prescription Painkillers

This section deals primarily with prescription pain pills rather than illegal opioids such as heroin.

Many patients on prescription painkillers believe that they are safe because:

1. they are not using illegal drugs
2. they may have been on these medications for years
3. they are older and wiser than those "young people" using dangerous drugs

Patients are not always fully aware of various risks, including risks of accidental overdoses, risks of becoming dependent on painkillers, development of drug tolerances, drug interactions, side effects (such as drowsiness or suppression of breathing), impairments in mental functioning, risks for family members, etc.  
 
The risks of opioid medications and drugs include (please click to view)

• Accidental overdoses
• Tolerance, Dependency & Withdrawal
• Addiction
• Impairments
• Worsening Pain (Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia)
• Newborn Withdrawal (Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome)