Opioids affect the opioid receptors in the nervous system and brain. These drugs provide a feeling of euphoria and are usually prescribed to ease the pain in injured people, people who have had medical procedures, and for other types of chronic pain. But if opioid medications are used for a while, a person can become dependent upon them and need them both physically and mentally.
Opioids are drugs such as:
• Oxycodone.
• Hydrocodone.
• Heroin.
• Morphine.
• Fentanyl.
• And other drugs.
Addiction has been defined as a chronic brain disease that causes a person to pursue finding and using a drug such as opioids and displaying certain behaviors that indicate that they feel that they need the drug to function in their lives.
The Statistics on Opioid Use
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According to ASAMhttps://www.asam.org/docs/default-source/advocacy/opioid-addiction-disease-facts-figures.pdf In 2016, two million people have a problem with substance abuse and pain medications and 591, 000 were addicted to heroin at that point. And drug overdose remains the leading cause of accidental deaths in the US. 20,101, and these deaths were related to prescription pain use. Plus, nearly 13,000 of these deaths were directly related to using heroin. The number of individuals dying from pain medication has increased dramatically. Heroin was considered by some to be easier to get than prescription pain pills.
In 2015 approximately 276,000 adolescents were using pain relievers for nonmedical reasons, with over 120,000 using prescription pain medications to the point of being addicted to them. Also, it was estimated that 21,000 young people had used heroin during that seem year. Unfortunately, some people share their prescription pain medications with friends or relatives that don’t have a prescription and don’t need the drugs for pain.
Women tend to have more pain than do men and use these medications for longer times than do men. Plus, women tend to get addicted more quickly than do men. And, unfortunately, women die from drug overdoses from prescription pain medications like opioids more often than do men, too. So, women using opiates have a much higher chance of becoming addicted to these substances.
Can You Get Free From Opioid Addiction?
It remains possible for you or someone you care about to get free from opioid addiction. But don’t try to go off these dangerous chemicals cold turkey or be alone. The process of drug detoxing from opioids remains far too dangerous to do without assistance. Opioid withdrawal symptoms include:
• Cramping muscles.
• Nausea.
• Depression.
• Mood swings.
• Grouchiness and irritability.
• Agitation.
• Anxiety.
• Panic attacks.
• Serious cravings for the drug.
Individuals who go off most drugs alone, especially opioids, have a higher rate of relapse than do those who ask for help. Instead of trying to deal with this severe health crisis alone, try getting help at an addiction rehabilitation center.
Addiction Rehab Centers
A comprehensive opioid treatment center offers several features, including:
• Detox.
• A holistic rehab setting.
• Dual diagnosis treatment.
• Group counseling.
• Individual counseling.
• Sober living experiences.
• Aftercare support.
To better inform you of the significant features of a comprehensive treatment facility, brief descriptions of these features are included below.
Counseling for Opioid Treatment
Individual therapy utilizes only you and your counselor discuss your issues and work on them. Your therapist will be there for you to diagnose any mental health issues you may have that led you to your addiction
Group counseling may include a group like a 12-step group that has meetings routinely. Group therapy remains an excellent choice for addiction treatment because:
• The groups provide support from individuals who are going through the same problems and process as you are.
• Group members can provide you with information, refusal skills and occasionally the push you need to keep you going in your program.
• Group therapy provides you with good role models.
• People participating in group therapy understand that they aren’t alone in their struggles.
• The therapist leading each session can gain meaningful information on your actions in a group setting.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Dual diagnosis treatment treats both addiction and any accompanying mental health problem that may also occur. In many cases, once both of the concurring illnesses are treated, you’ll have a much better chance of success in treatment.
Sober Living
Once you’ve reached a point of recovery in your treatment, you’ll be able to begin to live without as much supervision. You may get to live in a specific house where you have chores and are allowed to work or go back to school.
Aftercare
You’ll be discharged when your treatment is completed. But you and your counseling staff make an aftercare treatment plan that will help you stay sober and clean back in society. You’ll have these people from treatment plus others to rely on to keep you on the right track for the long haul.