Painkillers are a routine and legitimate part of medical treatment and are prescribed by doctors for short-lived (acute) pain such as headache, period pains or stomach cramps.

But painkillers are also essential for people suffering from severe and long term (chronic) pain from migraines, rheumatism, back pain and after an injury. It is hard to imagine the health service functioning without them.

Although the over-the-counter variety such as Aspirin and Ibuprofen are not addictive, some of the more powerful ones that contain codeine and require a doctor’s prescription can be, if taken on a long-term basis.

Common types of opioid (morphine-based) painkillers include:

• Oxycodone/OxyContin,
• Hydromorphone
• Dihydrocodeine
• Fentanyl
• Demerol
• Tramadol
• Percodan or Percocet
• Dilaudid

• Captain Cody, Cody
• Schoolboy, Doors & Fours
• Pancakes & Syrup
• Loads, M, Miss Emma
• Monkey, White Stuff, Demmies
• Pain killer, Apache, China girl
• Dance fever, Goodfella, Murder 8
• Tango and Cash, China white, Friend
• Jackpot, TNT, Oxy 80
• Oxycat, Hillbilly, Dillies
• Percs, Perks, Juice

Painkiller addiction stats:

• Overall, 5.4 % of adults aged 16 to 59 years had misused a prescription-only painkiller not prescribed to them
• Painkiller misuse is more common in younger ages – 7.2 % of 16 to 24 year olds had misused a prescription-only painkiller in the last year, while 4.9 % of 25 to 59 year olds had done so.
• The decline in misuse with age is less for prescription painkillers than other drugs
• While the misuse of prescription-only painkillers in the last year declined with age (8.0% of 16 to 19 year olds compared with 3.0% of 55 to 59 year olds), the decline was shallower than the decline with age seen for illicit drugs.
• Painkiller misuse is less likely to be associated with misuse of other drugs – 25% of the 16 to 59 year olds who had reported misuse of prescription-only painkillers reported having taken another drug in the last year
• More than 83% of users of new psychoactive substances had used another illicit drug in the last year
• Association of painkiller misuse with alcohol misuse

Information sourced by Current UK data on opioid misuse | Faculty of Pain Medicine.

Signs to look out for include:

• Continuing to use painkillers after pain has subsided
• Lying about or exaggerating pain to receive medication
• Hiding packaging or pill bottles
• Acquiring painkillers illegally
• Stealing or borrowing painkillers
• Constantly thinking about getting or taking painkillers
• Isolating yourself from family and friends
• Sweating 
• Pupils become pinpoint or dilated
• Co-ordination problems
• Insomnia
• Lethargic feelings/too much sleep
• Itchiness
• Dizziness
• Hallucinations and delusions
• Lack of concentration

While painkillers are usually obtained on a prescription basis, those addicted to painkillers may be obtaining extra drug doses online.

The danger with this is that they are uncertain of the exact substance or dose in the tablets they are ordering. This can have a serious impact on your mental and psychological health.

Psychosocial symptoms include:

• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Paranoia

Here are some of the serious phsical effects of painkiller addiction:

1. Liver and kidney damage
2. Seizures
3. Higher dosage due to increased tolerance
4. Respiratory depression
5. Dangerous drop in heart rate and blood pressure

These symptoms can sometimes cause the addict to stop breathing or go into a coma.