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Each morning, just as you’ve always done, you gaze lovingly at your spouse and give them a kiss on the cheek. Lately, however, things feel different. They’re hiding something. You know it; they know it, too, but only they know what “it” is. Could it be a prescription pill addiction?
Thousands of Americans rely on prescription painkillers to relieve pain, with many of those people becoming addicted or even dying as a result — and the sad but true reality is that your loved one could be suffering, too.
To help you know the signs of addiction as well as how to react to it, KSL.com and Renaissance Ranch have come together to bring you six signs your spouse may be hiding a prescription pill addiction.
1. Increased use
Just like any drugs, prescription pills are only effective for so long before the user needs to up the dosage. If you notice that your spouse is increasing his or her use, this is an indication that the amount they were taking is no longer providing them relief.
2. Becoming secretive
You may notice that your spouse takes frequent and unnecessary trips to the store, often alone. They may tell you that they lost their medication, had it stolen or accidentally dropped pills down the sink. You may find bottles of pills stashed in odd places throughout the house. All of these things are signs that your spouse has an addiction that they are trying to hide.
3. Loss of money
While health insurance may cover the initial prescriptions, eventually the cost will be coming out of your budget. You might see money unexpectedly leaving your bank account, valuables disappearing or even find your spouse taking on more work hours to cover the cost of his or her habit. If your spouse is not working — which can often be a result of drug use — you may begin to see an increase in arguments over finances.
4. Decrease in energy
While the initial purpose of the drug may be to help with pain such as headaches, body aches, surgery recovery or lingering pain from an injury, the side effects can also cause the person to be tired.
Your spouse might begin sleeping in longer, taking daily naps or going to bed early. Even if your loved one isn’t sleeping, opiates have a tendency to make eyelids to droop, causing the user look drowsy.
5. Change in appearance
Along with droopy eyelids, prolonged drug use often causes the user to have dilated pupils and/or flu-like symptoms when going through withdrawals. His or her appetite may also change, causing a decrease or increase in weight.
Continued drug use can become such a focus that your spouse may neglect his or her personal hygiene, causing another significant change in physical appearance.
6. Change in mood or personality
Not only do the drugs themselves have mood-altering capabilities, but combined with the dishonesty, secrecy, low energy and often defiance, it is likely that the person you gaze at every morning may not even be the same person at all.
There is help.
Just as you would do with anyone suffering from a chronic illness, it is important to show empathy and compassion. Don’t tell your spouse what to do, but instead, let them know you're willing to get them the help they need.
Staff members at Renaissance Ranch know firsthand what it is like to not only suffer from addiction but how to get on the right road to recovery through a unique faith-based program.
If your loved one is suffering, Renaissance Ranch can help.
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