Did you know that more than 2 million people each year develop substance abuse disorders related to prescription painkillers?

Over the past decade, prescriptions for opioid painkillers were easy to come by. Doctors were handing them out without much concern for the potential for addiction.

The ease of getting prescription painkillers led to a huge increase in opioid addiction. If you recognize that you have a problem, you might be wondering how to stop taking pain pills on your own. There are ways to curb your addiction if you know how.

Keep reading to learn more.

1. Figure Out How to Manage Pain Without Opioids

If you are still using your pain pills to manage your pain, you’ll need to figure out how to manage that pain without the use of prescription medications. Natural pain relief could include things like CBD, herbs and supplements, acupuncture, physical therapy, cryotherapy, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF), and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).

CBD can be used to alleviate a number of medical issues. These could include chronic pain, inflammation, migraines, and even depression and anxiety. Herbs like turmeric can also reduce inflammation that causes chronic pain. Physical therapy that uses PEMF and TENS use electromagnetic waves and electricity to treat your pain.

All of these methods are safer ways to manage your pain without the risk of addiction.

2. Safely Taper Your Usage Under the Supervision of a Doctor

If a doctor prescribes you prescription painkillers, they should closely monitor your usage. One of the most significant ways that opioid crisis has escalated is from doctors who wrote these prescriptions, and authorized refills, with no real monitoring of the patient.

Your doctor should provide a schedule for an opioid taper and monitor you during it. During the taper, your doctor may monitor your pulse, blood pressure, and temperature.

They may also test your blood and urine to see how much medication is still in your system, recommend other pain-relief methods, prescribe medications to help manage withdrawal symptoms, such as insomnia, lack of appetite, or mood disturbances.

3. Know When to Seek Professional Help

If your pain pill usage has gone too far and you can’t taper or cease their use on your own, it is time to seek out professional recovery services. Suboxone treatment centers, for example, can help you safely and comfortably detox from opioids. This is considered a medication-assisted treatment program and provides close supervision of your detox.

Suboxone itself is a controlled substance, but when it is used properly, and under close supervision, it can help manage the symptoms that make opioid withdrawal so painful. Minimizing these symptoms can increase the likelihood that those addicted to these drugs will actually follow through on their detox and rehabilitation, and not relapse.

How To Stop Taking Pain Pills On Your Own: Know What You’re Getting Into

Knowing how to stop taking pain pills on your own is important before you even begin taking them. Make sure you speak to your doctor when they are prescribed so you can use them responsibly. If you find that you can’t manage it on your own, it’s time to seek professional help.

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