I'm A Recovering Alcoholic. What Types Of Pain Medicine Can I Take?

— -- Question: I'm A Recovering Alcoholic. What Types Of Pain Medicine Can I Take?

Answer: If you are recovering from alcohol dependence or any other substance use disorder, you can take most types of pain medications. We are most concerned about the risk of opioid misuse and the risk of relapse in patients who use opioids for the control of their pain. Therefore, we often require that you participate in the twelve-step program and individual counseling at the same time opioids are provided for pain relief. This helps to ensure that your pain is treated adequately and that proper measures are taken to reduce the risk of aberrant behaviors like opioid diversion and misuse. Opioid agreements and random urine drug testing often are integral to the treatment plan as well.

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