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When the cure becomes the addiction…
Millions of Americans struggle with addiction to prescription pain medications (known as Vicodin, Oxycontin, Codeine and a slew of other brand names) and the effects can ruin lives. For the last several decades, opioids (derived from the opium poppy) have been increasingly prescribed for pain management after surgery or for long-term chronic conditions, which can be a huge relief for many people. But there’s also a risk of getting hooked: Our bodies adjust to the drugs and go through physical and emotional withdrawal when we stop taking them. That’s where the problems start.
Kathleen tackles this tough issue with Dr. Seddon Savage, director of the Dartmouth Center on Addiction, Recovery & Education. Dr. Savage explains how addiction starts and the internal and external warning signs. Find out who is most at risk and what every patient should know in order to use prescription drugs safely and responsibly.
Dr. Seddon Savage is a clinician, educator, and policy consultant in the fields of addiction medicine and pain medicine. She is an Associate Professor of Dartmouth Medical School and is the director of the Dartmouth Center on Addiction Recovery and Education. Dr. Savage has held a number of national leadership positions in addiction medicine and pain medicine and has been a recipient of the Maria Nyswander Humanitarian Award.
