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What is the difference between becoming addicted to pain medications and becoming used to them?

Many people who take pain medications over a long period of time develop a tolerance of them - their body becomes used to the medication and requires a higher dose to relieve the pain.

If someone needs a higher dose because the medication is no longer as effective as it once was, the only sign should be the presence of pain. Addiction, however, causes the body to crave the medication and other symptoms, other than pain, may emerge. Psychologically, a person who is addicted will do anything to get hold of the drug to relieve the need.

Reference: 

Jenny J. Lin, MD, David Alfandre, MD, and Carlton Moore, MD. Physician Attitudes Toward Opioid Prescribing for Patients with Persistent Noncancer Pain. In Clinical Journal of Pain. November/December 2007. Vol. 23. No. 9. Pp. 812-820.

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