What are opioids?
Opioids, sometimes known as narcotics, are a family of drugs recommended by doctors to relieve chronic or severe pain. They are used by people who have persistent headaches and backaches, patients recovering from surgery or experiencing severe pain from cancer, and adults and children who have been injured playing sports or who have been severely wounded in falls or car accidents. Opioids also include illegal drugs like heroin.
Different types of opioids
There are different types of opioids prescribed by the doctors depending on the level and type of pain. These medications are often sold under brand names such as OxyContin, Percocet, Palladone, and Vicodin.
The list of synthetic opioids are:
– Codeine
– Fentanyl
– Hydrocodone
– Oxycodone
– Oxymorphone
– Morphine
Heroin is an illegal drug that is a highly addictive substance derived from morphine, which is obtained from opium poppy plants. Some prescription opioid pain relievers have similar effects to heroin. According to research, the misuse of these medicines may pave the way for heroin use.
Can you get addicted to opioids?
Opioids are highly addictive if are taken for a long period. Opioid addiction is defined by a strong, compulsive desire to use opioid medicines even when they are no longer medically necessary. Even when prescribed appropriately and consumed as instructed, opioids have a high potential for addiction in some people. Opioids give you a euphoric state and are pain relievers which is why you can’t stop taking them. You become addicted to opioids without realizing and you can’t control the urge to take the drug.
Opioid addiction- who becomes addicted to opioids
People become addicted to opioids because they can combat the pain without any sort of physical or psychological addiction. They can also help the user make the pain feel better by blocking some of the nerves that receive messages from the brain.
If a family member has a history of alcohol or drug abuse, the odds to have inherited genes are increased. According to research, hereditary factors account for at least half of your chances of being addicted. Also, if a person is addicted to drugs, alcohol or tobacco, it is a high chance to get addicted to opioids too.
Opioid addiction symptoms
Addiction to opioids is frequently characterized by compulsive drug-seeking behaviour. To obtain higher doses of this medication a person may go to several doctors to seek new prescriptions. When a person is drug-dependent, she or he is unable to stop thinking about it, which interferes with daily activities and leads to the development of a spacing mechanism.
Pathological cravings for these drugs can also lead people to borrow, purchase, or steal them from friends and family. As a last resort, some people may seek out heroin, an illegal opioid that is easily acquired on the streets. Despite the well-known consequences of heroin, it is generally easier and less expensive to obtain than opioid medications. However, there are some symptoms to tell if someone is addicted to opioids.
Symptoms of opioid addiction are:
– the inability to control opioid use
– uncontrollable cravings
– drowsiness
– changes in sleep habits
– weight loss
– frequent flu-like symptoms
– decreased libido
– lack of hygiene
Opioid overdose
Overdoses are a terrible yet all-too-common side effect of opioid painkiller misuse. Overdoses are frequently induced by taking too much of a substance at once or by combining multiple substances, particularly other Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants such as Benzodiazepines and alcohol.
Some overdose symptoms related to taking these drugs are:
– unconsciousness
– confusion
– constricted pupils
– nausea
– vomiting
– shallow or restricted breathing
– cool or clammy skin
– frequent vomiting
– extreme sleepiness or inability to wake up
– intermittent loss of consciousness
Opioid addiction treatment
Opioids taken in big quantities for a long time can increase the chances of long-term changes to your brain. Fortunately, early treatment intervention can help you prevent some of the long-term health consequences of opioid addiction.
It takes a lot more than willpower to break free from prescription medication addiction, but you can do it. Although it is a long-term procedure, medication and counselling can increase your chances of success.
Medication for opioid addiction
Withdrawal symptoms from opioids such as large pupils, yawning, belly pain, nausea, vomiting, body aches, agitation and severe bad moods are major reasons for relapse and further prescription drug abuse. Also, psychologists and therapists noted that a stressful environment or work problems contribute to recurrence.
Methadone (Dolophine, Methadose) is a long-acting opioid that affects the same areas of your brain as the substance you’re addicted to but does not make you euphoric. You can take it every day, but you must visit a specialized clinic to obtain it. The optimum dose alleviates drug cravings and eliminates withdrawal symptoms.
Another medicine approved for the treatment of opioid addiction is buprenorphine. It stimulates the same brain receptors, but not as intensely. It has a lower risk of lethal overdose, hence experts frequently recommend it. It can also be used in conjunction with naloxone.
Naltrexone inhibits opiate receptors. It does not alleviate withdrawal symptoms or cravings like methadone or buprenorphine. However, you will not get high if you utilize drugs while taking it. Naltrexone is most effective when used as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation treatment program.
Counselling therapies for opioid addiction treatment
There are a number of different counselling therapies that can be helpful for people in recovery from opioid addiction, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Research shows that CBT is effective at reducing substance use and relapse rates. It also experiences higher success rates than other types of counselling therapies.
The success of CBT relies on the use of specific methods, including changing the perspective on how the person thinks about their situation and responding appropriately to their thoughts and feelings when they occur.
Recovery from addiction is most likely to happen when treatment is combined with supportive resources like family, friends, and social support groups. These resources can help those who are recovering from their addiction better understand the triggers that lead them to use drugs again so that they can avoid these triggers in the future. Those who are close to you will strengthen your treatment and will help you to overcome this drug addiction.
Opioids addiction recovery
If you or a loved one need help with an opioid problem, we can facilitate urgent or pre-booked admissions for an opioid detox and recovery programme, today.
Do not waste another day being the slave of this drug. Rehab Today by PCP (Perry Clayman Project) can help you to overcome this addiction and live a better life. Call or contact us for more information on how we can help!