Pain Recovery. Robert Hunter

      The Pain in Recovery Support Group (PIRSG) was created to provide those already in a twelve-step fellowship with a safe place to discuss their chronic pain issues in a mutually-supportive environment. For those not already in a twelve-step fellowship and who are seeking an opioid-free solution to their pain, PIRSG provides a place to practice the principles of pain recovery. PIRSG also offers information on various twelve-step fellowships so people can decide which one best fits their needs.

       For more information about the PIRSG, please email [email protected] or visit www.paininrecovery.org.

      Below you will find a self-test provided by the Pain in Recovery Support Group (PIRSG). The purpose of this exercise is to assess your use of medication and the possibility of addiction. We suggest you tear it off and make copies, and after you complete the self-test, ask family or friends to complete it also, with regard to your use. Getting input from others can expand your view of what your use has been like. When we are too close to a situation, those who care for us may provide perspective. If you feel resistant to doing this, just acknowledge the resistance and do it anyway. Don’t prejudge what others may say; just get their input. Input is necessary to accurately assess and diagnose, and as with any medical condition, you need an accurate assessment and diagnosis to effectively deal with your problems. So stay open-minded and get as much information about your situation as you can. If you feel the information is inaccurate, be sure to discuss this at a later time with a trusted person, a counselor, or a professional.

      { exercise 3.3 }

       Am I Addicted to My Pain Medication? Self-Test __________

      The following questions may help you make that determination. Answer yes or no for each question.

      ____ 1. Have you ever taken more of your medications or taken them more frequently than was prescribed?

      ____ 2. Have you ever used another doctor because your doctor wouldn’t prescribe any more medication or increase your dosage?

      ____ 3. Do you find yourself looking at the clock to find out when you can take your medication next?

      ____ 4. Have you used alcohol while taking prescriptions to enhance the medications’ effect, even knowing you were not supposed to?

      ____ 5. Have you ever used illegal drugs while taking prescribed medications?

      ____ 6. Do you have more than one doctor who is prescribing medications for you?

      If yes, are those doctors aware of all of the medications you are taking?

      ____ 7. Have you ever gone to an emergency room to get additional medications because the ones you had were not enough?

      ____ 8. Have you ever run out of a prescription before you were supposed to because you used more than was prescribed?

      ____ 9. Did you ever think “as needed” meant you could use as much as you wanted to, when you wanted to?

      ____ 10. Have you ever lied to a doctor about why you needed another prescription filled?

      ____ 11. Have you ever exaggerated your reported pain level just in case you had more pain later or to get another or a stronger prescription?

      ____ 12. Did you have addiction problems before your chronic pain?

      ____ 13. Have you ever thought, “I can’t live without medication”?

      ____ 14. Have you ever gotten a prescription and lied to your spouse or other family or friends about it?

      ____ 15. Have you ever lied to your spouse or mate or anyone about how much medication you are taking?

      ____ 16. Are you taking prescription medication and supplementing it with over-the-counter medication?

      ____ 17. Are you taking other prescriptions to deal with the side effects of your pain medication, e.g., sleep aids, stimulants, antianxiety drugs, or Soma?

      ____ 18. Have you ever taken anyone else’s pain medication?

      ____ 19. Have you ever stolen, forged, or altered a prescription, or called in a prescription by impersonating medical staff?

      ____ 20. Have you ever crushed, snorted, or injected your medication or taken it in a way other than the way it was intended to be taken?

      ____ 21. Have you ever overdosed or needed medical help because you took too much medication?

      ____ 22. Have you ever experienced a blackout (memory loss) caused by medication?

      ____ 23. Have you experienced legal consequences as a result of taking your medication, such as a DUI or assault and battery arrest?

      ____ 24. Have you had a friend, spouse, or family member express concern regarding your use of pain medication?

      ____ 25. Have you ever taken pain medications to deal with other issues such as stress or anxiety?

      None of these questions necessarily defines addiction, but if you answered “yes” to any of these, you should not rule out the possibility of addiction. The more “yes” answers you have, the greater the cause for concern about addiction. Do not use this test to judge yourself negatively; use it as part of a process of learning and examining that is necessary for success in pain recovery.

       Problematic Drug Use (PDU)

      For many of you with chronic pain, addiction may be too much of a stretch. However, you may find it helpful to look at your use of medications as being either problematic or nonproblematic. Even before a diagnosis of addiction is established, you may conclude there is problematic use that may or may not evolve into addiction. The following table will assist you in defining problematic use.