They contain opioid compounds that can lead to opiate addiction. Of course, you will have to go through all the stages of addiction, which are dependence, tolerance and withdrawal.

Opiate addiction and withdrawal are not something that you would want to experience in your life. The opiate addiction alone will wreak havoc to your life. You will find yourself frantic most of the time especially when you develop dependence and then tolerance and need to increase your dosage.

You will start to use the pain killers for different reasons ranging from simple headaches to stress, and eventually just to avoid the horrible withdrawal symptoms. You will also ruin the trust of everybody around you as you try to deny and hide your opiate addiction.

You might even hit rock bottom when you try to steal your husband's or wife's pain medication (or money and things to pawn for money), or lie to get prescriptions from any doctor you know (write fake prescriptions, a federal offense).

Withdrawal is even worse. You will experience runny nose, suicidal thoughts, stomach pain, depression, shaking, horrible cramps, aching bones, restlessness, insomnia (the inability to sleep for days and sometimes weeks), vomiting, loss of appetite and sweating .

The only logical thing to do is seek treatment for your opiate addiction and face your fears.

Treatment by Professionals:

Because opiate addiction and withdrawal can be pretty difficult, checking into a rehab or detox facility is a good idea, and your best chance at a successful recovery. These facilities are fully-equipped to treat people with different addictions.

Standard treatment for opiate addiction and withdrawal may involve medication and behavioral counseling. In any case, this treatment option is best for individuals who have tried quitting on their own or with the help of their friends repeatedly, but have still relapsed.

Because these facilities are private, some people prefer opiate addiction and withdrawal treatment in these places. Without professional treatment, it is very highly unlikely that you will quit on your own.

I know hundreds and hundreds of opiate addicts, and I only know one who quit on his own (with the the help of the drug suboxone).

Treatment by Friends/Family:

For people whose opiate addiction has been detected early on, you can ask assistance from your friend or another family member. They can monitor you as you detox in a room at your own home.

You must explain to your friends what they can expect while you are ridding yourself of these substances. They might hear you cry, shout and beg and they must ignore this. They will only have to make sure that you are fed and given water.

It would also be best that a licensed doctor prescribe you medication that will help you manage your opiate withdrawal treatment. Your friend can give you these medications and report your progress to your doctor.

I don't recommend this method, but it has been successful for some people, very few though.

Seeking treatment for your opiate addiction and withdrawal is not as easy as it may seem since there is always the issue of control. After treatment you will have to make sure that you curb your urges and stay sober.

A support group can help you accomplish this and you can even provide others with inspiration. As always, you must be strong-willed and committed to getting better in order to beat this opiate addiction.

For those of you who don't know, it is much much harder to to successfully rid this disease than you expect.