What drugs are opioids?
Opioids are narcotic drugs with natural opium or synthetically developed to replicate opium’s natural effects. Opium is a substance that comes from the seeds of the opium poppy plant.
America is currently in the middle of an opioid epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2015, the US got 80% of the world’s opioids prescription. Furthermore, 70% of the drug overdose deaths in the US in 2018, were related to opioids. The number of drug overdose deaths was over 67,000, while the number of opioid overdose deaths was over 46,000.
Thus, your health and life need to get help for opposite use disorder as soon as possible. A facility that offers personalized treatment plans like 310 Recovery is an ideal place to get help.
Types of Opioids
There are three main types of opioids. The kind of opiate depends on if it has natural or synthesized opium.
Natural Opiates
Opiates are naturally synthesized opioids. Examples include codeine, morphine, and more.
Synthetic Opioids
Synthetic opioids are opioids that are entirely manufactured and give effects similar to those of natural opium. Examples of synthetic opioids include methadone, fentanyl, and more.
Semi-synthetic Opioids
Semi-synthetic opioids are opioids that are partly natural and partly synthesized. Examples include heroin, hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone, and more.
How Opioids affect the brain?
There are opioid receptors on cells present in various parts of your body, including the spinal cord, brain, and other organs. The opioids will attach and activate these receptors. Once activated, they will release more dopamine into the brain and the rest of your body. Furthermore, they will also hinder pain signals the brain sends to the rest of the body.
What is Opioid misuse?
Doctors prescribed opioids for pain relief for a short period. However, they have a high chance of misuse due to their effects, availability, and other factors. Prescription opioids are especially prone to abuse through:
- Use the medicines in a way other than the one prescribed.
- Take a dosage more than prescribed
- Use of another person’s medicine
- Use of opioids for recreational purposes
Opioids can be misused in various forms. The methods of opioids abuse include:
- Try could swallow a dose as it is
- Open capsules or crush pills to dissolve the powder with water or alcohol
- Snort the powder from tablets or capsules
- Inject dissolved medication into your veins
You should be wary about mixing substances because they can form deadly combinations, especially alcohol and opioids.
Opioid Tolerance Vs. Dependence Vs. Use Disorder
Opioid use disorder can advance from tolerance to dependence and into a substance use disorder. Tolerance means that you will need more frequent and higher doses to experience the desired effects. People under long term opioid prescriptions are likely to develop a tolerance for the drugs.
Repeated use causes dependence. Your neurons will adapt to the drug’s presence and action and function generally after the use of the drug. The absence of drugs causes withdrawal symptoms.
Opioid use disorder is a chronic disease. Use disorder is defined by uncontrollable or compulsive need to use the drug despite the adverse effects.
Symptoms of opioid abuse?
You can use the following symptoms to determine if a loved one is abusing opioids:
- Lack of motivation
- Drug paraphernalia
- Change in weight and appetite
- Social withdrawal
- Financial strains
- No care for personal appearance or personal hygiene
- Abusing prescription
- Withdrawal symptoms
Symptoms of an opioid overdose
An overdose is an abuse case where an individual displays critical symptoms or death. People overdose by using too much of a substance or combining two or more substances. Combinations of opioids and alcohol or benzodiazepines can be deadly because both substances are central nervous systems depressants.
Symptoms of an overdose include:
- Unconsciousness
- Constricted pupils
- Confusion
- Shallow or restricted breathing
- Cool or clam skin
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Treatment for Opiate addiction at 310 Recovery
A combination of detox, behavior therapy and medication is the best approach to treat opioid use disorder. Patients tend to experience withdrawal symptoms like:
- Depression
- Cravings
- Anxiety
- Enlarged pupils
- Excessive yawning
- Nausea
- Muscle aches
- Goosebumps and chills
- Fever
- Sweating
- Tearing
- Sensitive to pain
- Irritability
310 Recovery offers specialized and personalized approaches to ensure individuals recover safely, avoid relapse, and achieve long term recovery. Our patients usually advance through three treatment phases: detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient treatment.
Furthermore, we also offer various forms of therapy crucial for treating use disorder for opioids and other substances. Examples include individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, 12-step programs, and more.
We also help individuals overcome co-occurring disorders like bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, or more. Our team consists of therapists, case managers, and counselors. We encourage you to slow down, take time, and dedicate it to using a suitable recovery plan.
Furthermore, we equip you with various skills you can apply to grow your life and cope with multiple triggers and cravings. Contact us now to understand your treatment needs and get a personalized treatment plan.
Conclusion
Opioids are narcotic drugs derived naturally from opium or synthetically manufactured to mimic its effects. There are three types of opioids, depending on their composition. They include natural opiates like morphine and codeine, semi-synthesized opioids like heroin, or synthesized opioids.
Doctors usually prescribe opioids. Out of 300 million prescriptions given worldwide in 2015, 80% were prescriptions for Americans. Moreover, most drug overdose deaths are opioid-related.
People can easily misuse opioids if they take someone medication, use it contrary to doctor’s prescription, and use opioids for recreational purposes. These can easily lead to increased opioid tolerance, dependence, and use disorder. There are various methods of opioid use. They include swallowing, dissolving the powder in water or alcohol, or injection dissolved opioids. Mixing opioids and alcohol can easily cause an overdose. Opioids overdoses can be fatal. Individuals display symptoms such as inconvenience, vomiting, shortness in breath, confusion, constrictive pupils, and more.
Treatment for opioid use disorder includes a combination of detox, medication, and therapy. 310 Recovery offers these approaches to use disorder through personalized treatment. Contact us now to get help.