Opioid Addiction Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Opioid Addiction in the United States

In the United States, opioid addiction is the number one cause for drug overdoses. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 47,000 individuals died from an opioid overdose. It is important to note that this number does not include the non-fatal overdoses recorded that year, confirming the urgency of this epidemic.   

Because of how addictive opioids are, quitting is often a difficult task and when not done under the proper medical supervision, potentially dangerous. They can easily destroy a person’s life if left untreated, but thankfully with the help of a qualified and licensed rehab center, a life free from addiction is within reach.  

If someone is struggling with an opioid use disorder, it is important to act fast and find help. The sooner treatment begins, the better their chance for an addiction free life. 

What you Need to Know About Opioid Addiction 

Used legally, opioids are a common drug prescribed by doctors to help manage pain. Stronger opioids are intended for use with chronic pain or while recovering from surgery, meanwhile weaker opioids, which were purchasable over the counter until 2018, are meant to help manage minor pain or treat coughs.  

When taken as a strong dose, opioids produce a euphoric high that overrides pain. As a result, many individuals use opioids recreationally and without a prescription, increasing the risk of addiction exponentially. Medical opioids are considered a gateway drug to more dangerous substances like the illegal opioid heroin. 

Common Opioid Nicknames 

New slang is constantly evolving for opioids, and each opioid will have its own collection of nicknames to help users and dealers interact without drawing much attention. Some of the common street names for opioids include:  

What are Opioids and Opiates? 

Natural opioids are derived from the opium poppy plant and have a long history in medicine. The first documented references to them date back to 3,400 B.C. where they were used by the Sumerians as a “joy plant.” As the drug was developed more, it spread across the world and became a medicinal substance for treating pain, coughs, bowel issues as well as helping people fall asleep.  

Today, opioids can serve similar functions, although their primary uses are to curb pain and coughing. In addition to the natural opioids like what the Sumerians used, there are now synthetic and semi-synthetic variants, although their purpose remains the same and their effects are similar. Technically, there are two terms for differentiating these, opiates (the original natural substance) and opioids (the altered derivatives). However, because their effects on the body and brain are so similar and synthetic opioids are so common, the two terms are often used interchangeably, although most of the time, it is preferable to simply group them both under the same category as “opioids.” 

The appearance of an opioid varies based on the substance, and they are available in pill, capsule, liquid, and patch forms. Pills are the most common option and they usually come in a wide range of colors that represent potency and drug combinations. Unfortunately, since these colors vary between brands there is no effective way to judge an opioid pill on its color alone. As pills, users may hide their opioids in mint tins or candy jars to draw less attention.  

Opioids may be taken orally like normal pills or they may be crushed, chewed, or dissolved in water for intravenous use. The same is true for capsules.  

It is important to recognize that this list is not all inclusive and new names are constantly being developed. Nicknames are often related to the appearance or effects of a drug, so if someone has taken opioids before, either recreationally or for medical purposes, it is useful to watch for any unusual names that match those details.  

Symptoms  

There are a number of symptoms that come with using opioids that can be expected during early stages. Some of these are the intended effects of the drug, but others are often unwanted consequences. In the beginning, these are usually minor and will disappear after drug use has stopped. As with any drug that produces a high, depressive episodes can also be expected after use as the user rebounds from the high. In certain cases, late stage side effects may develop during early use.  

 A list of earlier stage symptoms commonly includes: 

The longer use persists, the better the chance that more of these symptoms will occur. Additionally, new side effects that are significantly more dangerous may begin to appear as the addiction continues to progress. This can have dire consequences that easily disrupt a person’s life, and some may even lead to death.

Common late stage symptoms include: 

Opioids as a Gateway Drug 

Many opioid addictions start through the use of legal prescriptions where either the medication was taken improperly, for too long, or the user was naturally more prone to addiction than the average person. After all, some factors may increase an individual’s chance of addiction, the most notable of which include their age, gender, weight, drug use history, personal and family history with substance abuse, and current use of other drugs and alcohol.  

An opioid addiction presents a particularly dangerous risk because once treatment stops, it becomes significantly harder for an addict to continue to get their hands on their opioid of choice. While it is possible to bypass the legal means of obtaining the drug by purchasing opioids illicitly, this process is quite expensive and places a lot of financial strain on the individual. As this happens, and an individual’s tolerance for opioids increases, many turn to heroin to satisfy their cravings.  

Heroin is a semi-synthetic opioid that mimics the effects of opium, but because of its heightened potency and questionable creation process, it presents a significantly higher risk for addiction and overdose. Each year, the drug kills thousands of people, and it is possible to form a dependence on heroin from the initial use of the substance.  

For this reason, it is especially important to act fast to treat an opioid addiction. While prescription opioids on their own are a danger, what comes next is even worse.  

Finding Help 

Abusing opioids can lead to a serious addiction that may feel impossible to overcome once it has formed, regardless of how badly the addict wants it to end. As dependency worsens, the recovery process becomes more difficult, and potentially dangerous, when not handled properly. For this reason, it is important to quickly seek the help of trained specialists at a rehab facility to combat addiction. With their knowledge and experience treating opioid addiction, they can provide a safe, encouraging space to tackle the substance use disorder effectively.  

For an opioid addiction, treatment often begins with the detoxification process. During this time, the individual will be safely weaned off all harmful and addictive substance, under the supervision of a trained medical team. Detoxification is a crucial step in the recovery process, and should always be handled with the utmost care, as withdrawal symptoms and other potential health risks may present themselves.  It is imperative to never attempt to quit “cold turkey” or without the help of licensed professionals.  

After detoxification is complete, the patient may begin to undergo clinical care in a residential setting. During residential treatment, the individual will participate in several therapeutic modalities, treating the whole person, and not merely the symptoms of the disease. This can include various holistic therapies, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, recreational therapy, one-on-one counseling, treatment for co-occurring disorders and other individualized treatment plans conducive to the patient’s long-term recovery. Sobriety is an ongoing journey that requires much work and dedication. Through clinical treatment, the person can begin to address the reasons why they turned to drugs and alcohol in the first place, and how to begin living a life without their substance of choice.  

Although it may seem like an impossible task now, an addiction-free life is possible. Many have come before you and have found their way to the other side. If you or a loved one is currently struggling with an addiction to opioids, it is imperative to seek immediate help. The epidemic our country currently faces has proven that when gone untreated, addiction will always win.  

Your story does not have to end that way. Give Brookdale a call today at 855-575-1292 and discover what your life…recovered looks like.