An Insight Into Opioid Addiction

 Opioid addiction is considered an epidemic in the United States, affecting over three million individuals countrywide. It’s typically caused when individuals continue using opioids (pain medication) for longer than they’re prescribed.

Here’s what you need to know.

How Opioids Work

Opioids stimulate the release of the body’s feel-good neurotransmitters called endorphins. This alters your perception of pain, replacing the feeling of discomfort with pleasure. Although the effects are temporary, they can boost your sense of happiness and create a powerful impression of improved well-being.

As the opioid dosage wears off, these feelings subside. Consequently, you may experience pain and discomfort more vividly. This may compel you to induce the previous positive feelings once more, increasing the chances of you becoming addicted to the drug.

Individuals who take opioids frequently eventually need stronger doses to experience the pain-relieving effects. They develop an opioid tolerance, getting one step closer to developing an addiction.

Opioid Addiction Risk Factors

Individuals who’ve been using opioids for a long time are more likely to become addicted to the substance than those who’ve recently started taking the medication. According to research, a person who takes opioid medications for more than a couple of days is at risk of opioid addiction. If they become used to their pain-relieving medication, it can result in long-term use and abuse.

Some people consume opioid medications in ways they aren’t supposed to, for instance, by crushing the tablets and snorting them. While they may initially do this for rapid delivery (and thus, rapid pain relief), it can put them at the risk of addiction if this becomes a frequent practice. Using unauthorized methods or dosages can also result in an opioid overdose.

Opioid Addiction Treatment

Opioid addiction treatment may look different for each individual. Recovering from an addiction is never a linear process and may involve ups and downs along the way. It’s also highly likely that what worked for one person may not be effective for another. However, the goal of all opioid treatments is to help individuals stop using the substance.

Most treatment plans involve an integration of multiple techniques. These may include medication, lifestyle adjustments, rehabilitation, mindfulness and behavioral therapies, and other practices.

When a person discontinues opioid usage, their body reacts in different ways. They typically experience a bunch of physiological and psychological symptoms, aka withdrawal symptoms. A combination of the aforementioned strategies can help them manage their symptoms and cravings. Medicines such as methadone and naltrexone are particularly useful in subsiding the symptoms.   

Do you know someone struggling with an opioid addiction? A Defined Image Medical Wellness Centre provides opioid addiction therapy in Georgia. Call today for more details!

It also offers medical weight loss treatments and anti-aging treatments.