Why do people become addicted to painkillers?

Rehab experts say addiction to powerful painkillers such as OxyContin is among the hardest of all to kick. ... “I am addicted to prescription pain medication. ... Over the past several years I have tried to break my dependence on pain pills and, in fact, twice checked myself into medical facilities in an attempt to do so. read more

Chronic pain affects over one third of all Americans and many manage that pain through prescription medication. Some people worry that taking narcotic painkillers will lead to addiction. While these drugs are designed to reduce sensitivity to pain, they also create a sense of euphoria – a feeling that some people may come to crave. read more

And some painkillers, such as SSRIs, are non-habit-forming. More addictive painkillers like opioids are likely to become a problem for those individuals who already have a genetic predisposition to addiction. Because painkillers are so simple to use and have effective results, they’ve become the number one go-to solution for pain management. read more

I personally have never been addicted to pain killers. However, I have been prescribed them for different cases over the course of my lifetime and can certainly understand how someone could form an addiction. read more