Understanding Opioid Addiction

Opioid drugs are widely prescribed medications to manage pain disorders and symptoms. While they are highly effective and purpose-driven, they are also made up of strong, addictive traits when misused, posing as a risk for users.

While an opioid addiction will be avoidable by many individuals, through safe and sensible consumption, for others, the euphoria of opioid exposure, in tandem with influential triggers are found to start the addiction cycle.

Due to the nature of prescription drugs, many individuals tend to downplay the risks, severity, and likelihood of opioid use disorder. However, through denial and ignorance, opioid addiction can manifest and develop through abusing prescription guidelines, relying on opioid drugs and their traits, and self-medicating.

Understanding opioid addiction is very important, as the global epidemic of its effects continues to damage the lives of many. If you’re struggling or believe that opioid drugs are impacting a loved one, keep reading for clarity on symptoms and causes of opioid use disorder. We at Step One Recovery can also assist with appropriate treatment to overcome the damages of addiction.

Opioids are dangerous when misused consistently, aggressively and for the long term. Avoid such dangers with awareness, control, and support.

What are opioid drugs?

Opioid drugs are a type of prescription medication, found within the poppy plant, known as a substance, called opium. Opium is found within the likes of morphine, which is of course prescribed as a pain reliever. However, while a prescribed and medically advocated type of drug, opioids are in fact addictive and highly intensive when misused.

It’s understandable that prescription drugs are justified as harmless down to their medical backing. Yet it’s important to remember that prescriptions are offered on a personal basis, to manage and treat illness. Once such prescription is violated and abused, the drug itself in fact becomes harmful, categorised similarly to illicit drugs.

With this in mind, it’s very important to be aware of the addictive traits of long-term opioid abuse, along with understanding opioid addiction as a grave possibility.

How addictive are opioid drugs?

There is currently, and has been for years an opioid addiction epidemic, spanning across the world. This, therefore, showcases how extremely addictive opioid substances are when their exposure is consistent and for the long term. The epidemic has in fact cost people their lives, their livelihoods, their loved ones, their wellbeing, and their mental health, standing as an extremely damaging addiction.

Opioid drugs should be used for short periods of time, following medical guidelines and recommendations. Yet, as they are extremely strong and known to suppress pain, it’s easy for addictive behaviours to develop, by craving the positive and supportive traits of opium.

Through this positive reinforcement, those suffering from pain conditions are at risk of developing an opioid addiction, to block out suffering from euphoria. However, understanding opioid addiction will showcase how such euphoria will be temporary, resulting in even greater suffering through addiction.

Many people across the world will unknowingly be misusing opioid drugs. They will lack awareness of their dangers and place within the addiction cycle. Yet, by visiting our website here at Step One Recovery, we assume that signs of your habits or those of a loved one are evident. Here’s some insight to increase your understanding of opioid addiction, from symptoms to accessible treatment options.

Understanding opioid addiction

Every drug addiction will be different, from signs and symptoms to the rapid rate of development and to treatment opportunities and recommendations. With this in mind, understanding opioid addiction will be wise, if you’re abusing such drugs, to prepare and plan for the future.

Signs and symptoms of opioid addiction

• Using opioid drugs even when consequences are present
• Abusing prescriptions by using them quickly
• Looking for alternative forms of prescriptions, either online or through other medical practices
• Finding it hard to stop consuming opioid drugs
• Physical and/or mental changes linked to consumption
• Withdrawal symptoms in between opioid exposure
• Prioritising life, time, and money around opioid consumption
• Dramatic mood swings, irritability, and mental health problems
• Pinpoint pupils
• Sleep problems
• Withdrawing from life in general

 
Encountering such signs and symptoms as a combination can be a clear indication that opioid addiction is present. When physical and psychological change occurs, through drug abuse, even if the prescription kind, dysfunctional and unnatural substances or actions will be the cause, which in this case, opioid exposure.

 
The Addiction Cycle Of Opioid Misuse
Understanding opioid addiction is important as you may just be on the cusp of it. Drug addiction is commonly an unintentional action, which develops through ongoing exposure to drugs.

In the case of opioid misuse, it’s likely that consumers will initially fall suit with prescriptions. However, if the positives of pain relief outweigh the side effects of opioid misuse, a reinforcer will be present. That reinforcer will begin the addiction cycle.

Throughout the cycle, there’s a high chance that remorse and regret will creep in, overshining reinforcers. However, once pain returns, which it will, sometimes even stronger, those reinforcers will be craved, turning into opioid consumption.

This cycle will continue to the point of misuse and addiction, where deterring the process will be unlikely without treatment. If you’re at this point, considering professional treatment will be encouraged. If you’re yet to increase your dosage and self-medicate, we urge you to seek medical support, as you can stop the addiction cycle by doing so.

 
Addiction Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder
Overcoming opioid use disorder will require a mix of addiction treatment services. Detoxing will be a must, at a slow pace, to prepare the body for sober living.

Alongside this, treatment and therapies will focus on restorative efforts, psychological stability, relapse prevention and strengthening a sober lifestyle. Anything from dialectical behavioural therapy, stress management, exposure therapy, medication and group therapy will be encouraged. All recommendations will be appropriate for each client.

Treatment will be best completed through residential rehabilitation to safeguard your health and wellbeing while progressing ahead through treatment.

Helping yourself through prescription drug addiction to opioids will be possible by understanding the matter at hand, and by taking action on that matter through treatment.

How to help someone with opioid addiction here at Step One Recovery

If you’re instead worried about someone around you, you can reach out to share your concerns over opioid abuse. We offer referral services and interventive support, to motivate the idea of rehabilitation. While this can take some time and significant patience, it can be beneficial to kickstart the acceptance of addiction recovery.

We’re also here at Step One Recovery to help you heal, as all parties should have the chance to feel free from addiction.

Whether you’re struggling, or believe that someone close to you is, understanding opioid addiction risks, cycles and signs are vital. In tandem, gauging how to overcome such conditions is recommended, to prepare for your next step. Reach out for greater awareness of opioid addiction treatment, from our range of clinics.

Prescription drugs are dangerous when abused. Avoid this with the highly addictive drug of opiates.