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Is there any way to tell if someone is misusing their prescription pain meds? I'm concerned that my mother might be addicted to her prescription (narcotic) pain reliever.

When used as prescribed, narcotic medications can be very effective without creating dependence and/or addiction. Signs that there may be a problem with misuse and/or abuse include:

  • Seeking drugs from multiple doctors
  • Losing the prescription (more than once)
  • Stealing or borrowing similar drugs
  • Forging prescriptions

    Sometimes what looks like drug addiction is really just poorly controlled pain. If the patient is using more drug than was prescribed, hoarding drugs, or complaining about the need for more medication, then a follow-up evaluation with the physician is needed.

    • Reference: 

    Dennis C. Turk, PhD, et al. Pedicting Opioid Misuse By Chronic Pain Patients. In The Clinical Journal of Pain. July/August 2008. Vol. 24. No. 6. Pp. 497-508.

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