The Age-Old Question
The negative side of opioid usage is constantly covered on the news. We’re bombarded by horror stories of the effects of opioid addiction. This often leads people to wonder whether or not there are alternatives to the standard in high-level pain management.
Music therapy has existed for a long time, and it has been shown to have a number of positive health effects, which begs the question: how applicable is music therapy in pain management, and could it work well enough to replace opioids?
The concept of “opioids” is pretty broad, so let’s break it down. Opioids are a broad class of drug that stretches anywhere from typical, prescribed medications to illegal substances. While they generally come from the poppy plant’s seeds, they can also be completely man-made. They’re generally prescribed post-surgery or following serious physical trauma.
There are 3 main kinds of opioids: natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic.
Natural opioids, like opium and morphine, are made directly out of the seeds of an opium poppy plant. You may also hear these referred to as “opiates.” While they likely still pass through a lab, you could theoretically make a natural opioid with a bunch of poppies and the tools lying in your shed. These are the most natural forms of opioid medications.
Semi-synthetic opioids are created in a lab, but are synthesized with the same natural ingredients. Examples of semi-synthetic opioids include hydrocodone and oxycodone.
Synthetic opioids are engineered to target the same place in the brain as the other kinds, but they are entirely chemically created in a lab, using no poppies. There is evidence that synthetic opioids may not be as safe from an addiction standpoint. Most of these are related to the fentanyl of drugs.
There are a number of illegal opioids, as well. For starters, taking any drug that is only meant for prescription if you don’t have one is a federal crime. It can also create a higher risk of developing an addiction if you haven’t already talked to your doctor about your family history and genetic predisposition to addiction. On top of that, heroin is an opioid, specifically a semi-synthetic. A doctor technically can prescribe heroin today, but it’s rare and generally frowned upon.
Something less rare is the prescription of fentanyl. You can only get a prescription for it if you have chronic severe pain or severe post-surgery pain. It’s made entirely synthetically, so it’s exponentially more potent than any other drug listed here. That also means it’s much easier to overdose on it. Fentanyl can be a trustworthy drug if and only if it is prescribed by a doctor and is sourced from a reputable pharmacy. Otherwise, you’re playing with some pretty dangerous fire.
Generally, opioids are highly linked to addiction. Even in the short term, people using opioids are running the risk of developing a dependency. This risk generally only comes up in those with a family history of addiction, so you should always consult a doctor before starting on any opioid-based medication.
Opioid addiction has the potential to be a life-altering substance abuse disorder. The effects of an opioid high are fairly self-explanatory, but substance addiction’s effects are more heavily felt during withdrawal, or the time the user isn’t high.
First, there’s the issue of obtaining new drugs. If you start on your own, or someone else in your house's prescription, eventually that original supply is going to run out. That’s the moment people start turning to illicit drug dealers. The imported illegal stuff is really never measured with any level of scientific accuracy, and that’s where overdoses tend to occur. You never want to take an unregulated substance.
Then, there’s the issue of withdrawal symptoms. The experience of withdrawal is a waking nightmare. Opioid withdrawal symptoms include
Those are only a few examples of the negative consequences being sober while having a dependency can bring, so the best option is to not fall into that path in the first place. Of course, if you are struggling with an addiction already, there are several ways to handle it.
That was a lot of doom and gloom. With all of that on the table, it may feel like opioids are entirely not worth the risk, which is not true. They have a purpose: treating pain, and they’re great at it. Morphine has been in use to treat patients post-surgery and people with chronic pain for more than two centuries, and, even though fentanyl’s use case is extremely specific, it’s a miracle that we have the technology to create a drug 100 times more effective than its natural counterpart. It’s just important to understand that there are risks based on your family’s history of addiction, and if you don’t have that history, you’re at very little risk.
First, it’s important to understand what music therapy really is. We can look back to the days of Plato for some of the oldest references to the healing properties. Formal music therapy has been around for hundreds of years, but it mostly started getting popular around the early 20th century, and it’s currently going through a bit of a pop culture renaissance. Over the last few years, people just haven’t been able to get enough of this calming alternative to normal therapy.
A music therapist is someone who is specifically trained to assist their patients through mental health issues and positive coping mechanisms with music. This person generally has a good handle on how to play several instruments and a wide knowledge base of different genres.
Music therapy can consist of a number of different tactics and strategies. Depending on the person and their musical ability, it could involve playing instruments, or it could be about analyzing lyrics. Some sessions may surround dancing or general rhythmic movement, and sometimes it’s just listening to music your music therapist chooses for you like a guided meditation. Everything about music therapy is 100% personalized to each individual patient based on instrumental ability and music taste.
Music therapy has been found to reduce pain in patients across the board, especially in cases of pain following a surgery. Some studies have also shown that music therapy can improve the results of in vitro fertilization, sickle cell anemia, and bone regrowth. It can also weaken the effects of dementia on those with deteriorating mental conditions. It really is a wonder what calming down regularly and with structure can do to people. Music therapy is a simple alternative to a lot of things, and its effects can be seen quickly.
Ironically, music therapy is especially helpful in cases of substance abuse. If you’ve already tried opioids and you’re on a bad path with them, music therapy can act as a double whammy, helping reduce both chronic pain and substance withdrawal symptoms.
People going through withdrawal are often quick to frustration. One great thing about music therapy is that it helps people find healthy coping mechanisms, which can increase your tolerance for frustration.
It’s also important to remember that physical pain and mental turmoil go hand in hand. Often the root cause of a psychological issue can be linked back to physical pain, so using therapy of any kind for pain management can be a net positive.
There are a few risks to opioid use that can have some serious consequences, so many people wonder if there are alternatives that could supplant the need for painkillers.
In most people’s cases, there is no better alternative to pain killing medication. However, music therapy has been shown to improve pain conditions in patients, and it’s perfectly natural to feel hesitant towards the thought of taking opioids. If you have any reservations about starting on opioids, ask your doctor about what alternative strategies and medications you can use, and always bring music therapy up, so you’re both considering it as an option.
