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Editorial Policy | Research Policy
The opioid epidemic has been in full swing in the United States for years, and has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with opioid overdose deaths increasing dramatically. For this reason, it is important to be aware of the risks of opioid and opiate abuse and addiction. This is true even if you or your loved ones are prescribed opioids but do not abuse them: up to 12% of people on opioids for chronic pain end up eventually developing an opioid use disorder.
Opiate and opioid are terms that are often used interchangeably. The main difference between opiates and opioids is how they are made. In technical terms, the word opiate refers to drugs that are naturally derived from the opium poppy, while opioid refers to synthetic or semi-synthetic drugs which are man-made. However, many people use the terms without paying heed to that distinction.
Prescription painkillers often fall into the category of opiate or opioid. They both act on the mu opioid receptors of the brain and the central nervous system of the user in an identical manner, and they also have a high potential to be habit-forming. Opioid and opiate abuse is an issue that is plaguing the entire country.
Opiates are natural analgesics that are derived from the opium poppy. They include natural narcotics like:
Opioids are made, at least in part, in a lab. Some opioids are semi-synthetic, meaning that they are partially derived from opium and partially man-made, and include drugs such as:
Other opioids are fully synthetic, meaning they are entirely made in a lab environment. These opioids include:
To understand opioid and opiate addiction, it is important to first understand the impact the drugs have on your brain.
When an opioid enters your brain, it binds to mu opioid receptors. Many of these are located in your brain’s reward system. This triggers a release of a flood of dopamine, a feel-good chemical in your brain. This can cause a euphoric high. Due to this impact on your brain’s reward center, your brain wants to continue seeking out the drug that triggered the good feelings. This represents the first step on the path to addiction.
As an opioid addiction develops, that distort thinking and behavior. This can make it very difficult for someone to quit taking the opioid, even as they suffer negative consequences.
It can be tough to spot an opioid problem until abuse or full-blown addiction are occurring. However, as with other substances, some of the earliest signs of opioid abuse are often related to lifestyle and behavior. Common signs of substance abuse include:
As a person continues to struggle with opioids, the signs can become even clearer to their friends and loved ones as an addiction takes hold. Opioid and opiate addiction signs may include:
Many of the side effects related to the use of opioids are due to the effects these drugs have on the brain and body. Over the short term, opioid effects include not only pain relief, but also a sense of euphoria in the user, which is often then followed by intense relaxation or drowsiness.
Other opioid side effects include:
The side effects of opioids can range from relatively mild, particularly when someone first starts using them, to very severe and deadly, such as coma and overdose. No matter how long a person has been taking opioids, the risk of abuse and addiction remain high.
Using opioids chronically over the long term can cause a variety of harmful effects. These effects are distinct from the short-term effects of opioids and can impact both a person’s health as well as their mental status.
Some long-term physical effects of opioid use include:
Sleep apnea and other breathing problems during sleep
Injuries like falls and accidents
Constipation and intestinal blockages
Sexual problems like impotence and infertility
Osteoporosis
Dry mouth, which may lead to dental problems like tooth decay
Muscle twitching
Long-term opioid use causes a psychological burden for a person’s mental well-being. Psychological effects of long-term opioid use include:
Sleep problems, including both excessive sedation and trouble sleeping
Heightened sensitivity to pain
Depression
Anxiety
Apathy
Opioid overdoses can occur when a person takes an excessive amount of an opioid, or pairs it with another drug that can increase the opioid’s effects, like alcohol or other central nervous system depressants. Opioid overdoses can also occur in people who have recently quit taking opioids and are unaware that their opioid tolerance has decreased.
Some of the opioid overdose signs and signs of opioid toxicity include:
An opioid overdose is a medical emergency. If left untreated, an opioid overdose can be fatal.
If you suspect an opioid overdose, it’s essential to give naloxone (Narcan) if it’s available and immediately seek emergency medical attention. Signs of opioid intoxication should never be ignored or diminished. You will not get in legal trouble for saving someone’s life by seeking help for an overdose.
Drug overdose can be fatal. If you suspect someone is experiencing an opioid overdose, call 911 immediately. Do NOT be afraid to seek help. If you do not have access to a phone contact Colorado Poison Center for online assistance.
Many factors can impact a person’s susceptibility to substance abuse, including opioid addiction. While it can be hard to change some of these risk factors, being aware of them can help a person be vigilant to the risks that opioids may pose.
Some risk factors for substance abuse include:
Opioid addiction is often diagnosed based on the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). The DSM-5 is considered the gold standard of diagnosing many mental health problems, including addictions.
To be diagnosed with an opioid use disorder, at least 2 symptoms of opioid use disorder need to have occurred within a 12 month period. Symptoms include:
Realizing that you struggle with opioids is scary but is the first step on the road to recovery. Once you are able to admit you have a problem, you are then able to seek help. Fortunately, many treatment strategies exist to help a person quit opioids for good. These include the following.
Recovery from an opioid addiction can be challenging. It is important to remember that addiction is a chronic disease and, therefore, is a long-term journey. Although the path towards sobriety can sometimes include lapses and relapses, these are expected parts of the recovery journey.
Treatment like detox, rehab and aftercare can help to put you on the road to recovery. Taking a multi-pronged, whole-health approach to your well-being, focusing both on your mental and physical health, can help increase your chances of success.
If you or a loved one struggle with opioids, it is common to feel overwhelmed. But help is here. Contact our opioid addiction experts at The Recovery Village At Palmer Lake: we will help set you on the path to an opioid-free life. Don’t wait, call today.
One of the cornerstones of addiction treatment in recent years is medication-assisted treatment. With MAT, we can help people with opioid addiction begin and maintain a long-term recovery.
Because heroin is an addictive, deadly and illegal substance, it’s common for people to wonder about what heroin looks like and how to recognize it – especially those who suspect a friend or loved one may be using.
Inpatient rehabilitation offers constant live-in care for people with substance use disorders. At an inpatient care facility, all evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation is supervised by medical professionals.
Women who are pregnant may find themselves wondering if it is safe to use hydrocodone during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Ultimately, using any kind of opioid while pregnant or breastfeeding should generally be avoided.
Medical detoxification, more commonly known as medical detox, this process is crucial to successful recovery. When you’re dependent on a substance, your body has to compensate for the constant presence of that substance.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Opioid Overdose Crisis.” March 11, 2021. Accessed May 2, 2021.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Overdose Deaths Accelerating During COVID-19.” December 17, 2020. Accessed May 2, 2021.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Commonly Used Terms.” January 26, 2021. Accessed May 2, 2021.
Oregon Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission. “Opiates or Opioids — What’s the difference?” n.d. Accessed May 2, 2021
American Psychiatric Association. “What Is a Substance Use Disorder?” n.d. Accessed May 2, 2021.
Raypole, Crystal. “Everything You Need to Know About Psychological Dependence,” Healthline, May 28, 2020. Accessed May 2, 2021.
Ghoshal, Malini. “Understanding Drug Tolerance,” Healthline, November 21, 2019. Accessed May 2, 2021.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. “What are some signs and symptoms of some[…]h a drug use problem?” n.d. Accessed May 2, 2021.
U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration. “Drugs of Abuse.” April 2020. Accessed May 2, 2021.
Oregon Pain Guidance. “Medical Risks of Long-Term Opioid Use.” May 2016. Accessed May 2, 2021.
State of Hawaii Department of Health. “Risk Factors.” n.d. Accessed May 2, 2021.
American Psychiatric Association. “Opioid Use Disorder.” November 2018. Accessed May 2, 2021.
The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.
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