I believe if doctors received more training on addiction in medical school, opioid addiction would significantly decrease. I should stop here and make a distinction between physical dependence on opioids and addiction to opioids. Many long term opioid users will likely develop a physical dependence, but addiction is more than just physical dependence. For those predisposed to addiction, using opioids will become a major problem — addiction being a chronic brain disease characterized by tolerance and continued, obsessive use despite negative consequences. Most pain patients who become physically dependent on opioids  don’t develop the obsession associated with addiction – they’ll detox off the medicine when it’s no longer medically useful. The addict, however, will crave the opioids even after they’re no longer needed — and the addict will use higher and higher amounts of the opioids. Even if the patient’s detoxed in a hospital, unless there’s some form of addiction treatment, the person will likely return to opioids.

 

With a better understanding of addiction, doctors can recognize more quickly the signs and symptoms of addiction and refer to treatment. Doctors can also use alternative means of pain management for patients who have a history of addiction. There’s evidence that Suboxone is good for long term pain management, and it’s also a replacement treatment for opioid addiction. Sometimes opioids are the best treatment for pain, but sometimes opioids cause long term damage. If government begins regulating the opioid problem, that might not be the best solution — it might be best if the medical field regulates itself.