How Short-Term Prescriptions Can Restart Opioid Addiction

Short-term prescriptions are medications that are only intended to be taken for a limited amount of time. They could be used to treat pain related to a physical injury or surgery. These medications are typically taken for anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. 

Short-term prescriptions are often used to help bridge the gap between an individual’s immediate injury or surgery and provide relief until their pain decreases in the healing process. Since they are intended to be taken only on a short-term basis and in a controlled manner, short-term opioid medications are often considered to be relatively safe. However, that does not mean that misuse, tolerance, and addiction can occur. 

Some people will misuse opioid prescriptions, taking more of the drug or taking it more frequently than prescribed. They may also begin taking the drug for emotional relief instead of using it to experience relief from their physical pain. 

Some of the most common short-term medications include hydrocodone, morphine, codeine, oxycodone, and tramadol. Any of these medications can activate the reward system of the brain. This means that they may cause cravings, tolerance, and eventual addiction. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with an opioid addiction, there is help available. You can contact our team at Hawaii Island Recovery today to learn more about available resources and treatments. 

Some people think that because a certain medication is taken only on a short-term basis that it automatically means that it is risk-free. This is not the case. 

Many people often think that their doctor would not have prescribed them the medication if it weren’t safe. This is because of the impact of opioids on the reward center of the brain, which can lead the individual to experience cravings. 

Many people also don’t know how their body and brain will respond to a certain medication. Some people may not realize they will come to enjoy how the medications feel. They may begin to crave the sense of numbness or emotional comfort that they experience. As a result, they will begin to use the medication in a different way than it was intended. 

It is also important to consider the fact that addiction can sneak up slowly without the individual even realizing it. They may not understand that they are experiencing dependence and, as a result, are in danger of addiction. 

Situations that can lead to short-term opioid prescription involve those in which an individual is experiencing a sudden and severe level of pain. 

This could be from an accident or injury and may involve broken bones, torn ligaments, or severe muscle injuries. The medication is to be taken only for a limited time to provide the individual with relief from their pain.

Another situation that can lead to short-term opioid prescription could involve a surgery. The medication is intended to help provide the individual with pain relief as they go through the early stages of the healing process. Depending on the situation and the individual’s pain level, a prescription may be refilled, and they may need to take the medication longer than was originally planned. 

Another common situation in which a short-term opioid may be prescribed is to provide pain relief following a dental procedure, such as wisdom teeth removal or a root canal. 

In some cases, opioid medications may be prescribed on a short-term basis to help treat flare-ups of certain chronic medical conditions. For example, this could involve migraines, arthritis, or other similar conditions. 

Short-term opioids are only intended to be taken for a few days to a few weeks. 

However, this depends on the individual, their specific pain level, and their unique situation. For example, a doctor may determine that a specific medication needs to be taken for a longer period of time. 

Some people may misuse short-term prescription opioids because they like the way the medication makes them feel or the emotional comfort that it gives them. 

They may begin to take more medication to take higher doses of the medication or take it more frequently than was intended. Many people may start out never intending to misuse it, only to find themselves becoming dependent on it. They may use it as an unhealthy way to cope with difficult emotions such as loneliness, depression, or anxiety. In time, they no longer take the medication for the purpose of pain relief, but instead for emotional relief. 

Even when short-term opioid prescriptions are taken in the way that they are intended, they still affect the brain’s reward system in a very powerful way, leading to a sense of comfort and pleasure. 

They can also have an impact on emotional regulation, making it difficult for an individual to regulate their feelings in a normal, positive way. 

Opioids can also trigger the release of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter associated with a sense of pleasure and reward. The release of this chemical can help provide a sense of euphoria and relief from stress and anxiety. As a result, an individual can find themselves continuously seeking that positive feeling, even after a short period of time. 

Yes, it is very much possible for dependence to develop even after only short-term exposure to opioids. 

A lot of people falsely believe that it takes a long period of time of misusing opioids to become dependent on them. However, even if someone takes opioids exactly as prescribed, they can still become dependent on them even as quickly as a matter of days. This is because these are powerful drugs that affect the brain and the body very quickly. 

The process of becoming dependent on an opioid is not always something that is very obvious. It can sneak up on a person. They may try to reason with themselves to come up with a valid excuse for misusing a drug. For example, they may tell themselves things like, “I’ll just take a little more medication than usual because I’m having a bad day.” 

Yes, some people may take opioid prescriptions for emotional relief instead of physical relief. 

They may have started out taking the medication for physical relief as originally intended. However, over time, they may find that they really enjoy the emotional comfort or relief that it makes them feel. They may notice that it provides a sense of numbness or a decrease in stress. 

The shift to using opioid prescriptions for emotional relief instead of physical relief can happen gradually, without the individual even recognizing what’s happening. They find themselves turning to opioid prescriptions even when they are no longer in pain, or taking more of them than prescribed. In particular, they may turn to opioid misuse during situations when they’re experiencing negative emotions such as stress, anxiety, loneliness, depression, or anger. 

Those who struggle with a history of trauma or mental illness may be especially at risk of turning to opioid prescriptions for emotional relief rather than physical relief. They may begin to develop an emotional attachment to the drug and may come to believe that they can’t experience relief or regulate their emotions properly without it. 

Some people may request a refill after their short-term prescription runs out for legitimate reasons, such as still needing pain relief or in order to help them with their ability to function. 

Sometimes pain can legitimately last longer than was originally anticipated by an individual’s doctor. It may impact their ability to function to their best ability at work or school, and they may struggle with significant discomfort. As a result, their treatment plan may need to be adjusted and their prescription extended. 

However, other people may request a refill due to a variety of other factors, including tolerance or emotional reasons. In the case of tolerance, an individual may reach the point where they need more and more of the drug to experience the same effects. This happens when the body and brain become used to the substance. The thought of trying to give up the medication may cause them to feel overwhelmed and stressed, leading them to request a refill even though they may no longer be in physical pain. 

Other individuals may worry about how they might handle stressful situations or difficult emotions without this medication. This can cause them to request a refill despite not truly needing them. 

Yes, undisposed prescription medication can increase the risk of misuse in a significant way. This risk involves not only the person who was originally prescribed the medication, but potentially others in the house as well. 

Opioids affect the reward center of the brain. They can cause feelings of euphoria and relaxation. Because of this, having them readily available can cause someone who no longer needs the medication to turn back to them. For example, they may take the medication to help cope with difficult situations or negative emotions. They may tell themselves they are only going to take the medication on a short-term basis, only to find themselves unable to stop. 

It’s also possible that someone else in the house may find the medication and decide to use it, despite not being prescribed the medication. This could involve kids, teens, and adolescents. If someone in the household has a history of opioid addiction, they could be particularly at risk. Even finding the medication could trigger them to turn back to opioid use. 

There are proper ways to dispose of prescription opioid medications. This could involve looking for a hospital or pharmacy that does a medication take-back program. To learn more about how to properly dispose of prescription medications, reach out to our team at Hawaii Island Recovery today. 

Follow-up monitoring by a doctor or other medical professional is very important when it comes to short-term prescription opioid use. This is because it can help prevent misuse, dependence, and addiction. 

Follow-up monitoring helps ensure that the individual is taking the medication as it was intended and that it is working effectively. It also helps to ensure that if a dosage or treatment plan needs to be adjusted, it can be done so effectively and promptly. 

It is not always easy to determine how a person’s healing journey might go. For example, some people may experience higher levels of pain than a doctor originally expected. As a result, they may need a higher dosage of a medication to find relief. 

It is possible for a short-term prescription to unintentionally restart someone’s past opioid addiction because it reactivates areas of the brain that are connected with the previous addiction. 

A person may start out taking the medication, determined to only use it as prescribed. However, over time, they may find themselves taking higher doses. They may then struggle to stop taking the drug even after their pain has subsided. 

Yes, post-surgery recovery is one of the most common ways that someone may unintentionally find themselves struggling with an opioid addiction. Someone may be prescribed a short-term opioid medication with the intention of it helping to provide pain relief. However, they may find themselves enjoying the emotional comfort that the drug provides them. As a result, they may continue taking the medication even after their pain goes away. 

Opioid addiction can be avoided in post-surgery recovery through regular monitoring by a doctor and a solid treatment plan.

Patients should be made fully aware of what they can expect from the recovery process, what they should do if their plan lasts longer than anticipated, and the risks involved with opioid use. They should also be made aware of what non-opioid options may be available for them. 

It’s also important that an individual is made aware of different ways that they might find relief from pain after their prescription ends. For example, this could involve icing an injury, applying heat, physical therapy, relaxation practices, and non-addictive pain medications. 

A physical injury can lead to unintentional opioid addiction. This is because a person may be prescribed a short-term opioid to take on a temporary basis to help relieve pain related to the injury. However, they may experience dependence and eventual addiction to the drug. 

Someone with a history of chronic pain can face a higher risk of short-term opioid addiction because they may be prescribed an opioid in order to find relief from their pain. It could be because their pain may not subside over time in the same way that it typically would after recovering from surgery or physical injury. Therefore, they may take the medication for an extended period. 

Due to this, they may build up a tolerance to the medication over time. This will cause them to need more and more of the drug to experience the same relief. Over time, this can lead to dependence and addiction. 

Yes, non-opioid pain management methods can help prevent addiction. This may involve methods such as physical therapy, heat/ice therapy, and mindfulness techniques. 

Hawaii Island Recovery provides evidence-based and holistic treatment programs tailored to individuals facing challenges with prescription drugs. 

Our services include:

We focus on treating the whole person, considering the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of recovery.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to a short-term prescription opioid, there are resources and treatments that can help. To learn more about how short-term prescriptions can both start and restart opioid addiction, reach out to our team at Hawaii Island Recovery by calling (866) 390-5070 today.