Essential Facts about Opiate Dependence and Addiction

Opiates are drugs that are obtained directly from the opium poppy plant, and good examples include codeine and morphine. Opioids derived directly from opium are called natural opiates, while those that are chemically created in the laboratory are called synthetic opiates. The use of opiates is addictive, and trying to avoid using them can be a painful process. Luckily, Dr. Thomas C Yee leads a team of specialists at Rapid Opioid Detox Clinic in treating opiate addicts in Nevada, Las Vegas, and Newport Beach, California.

Below are crucial facts you should know about opiate addiction.

Classification of Opiates

Doctors prescribe opiates for a range of medical needs. Opioids are classified into agonists and antagonists.

When agonist opiates interact with specific receptors in your brain, they produce an opiate effect. In a medical setting, the most commonly used agonist opiates include fentanyl and morphine. Other examples of agonist opiates include heroin, hydrocodone, buprenorphine, methadone, Darvocet, Dilaudid, Demerol, and oxycodone. Agonists have potent effects, which can lead to abuse and addiction.

Antagonists are used during the first phase of opiate addiction recovery, that is, during detoxification. Examples of antagonists are Naloxone and Naltrexone. They are less addictive but can still be abused by users.

How Do Opiates Cause Addiction?

Doctors will prescribe opioids after an operation or if you have severe chronic backaches, headaches, pain caused by different cancers, and injuries from different accidents, to help you manage pain.

The doctors can give you a specified dose, but with time, you’ll find out that the same dose is not as effective as it was a few months ago. This is because the continued use of opiate drugs makes you tolerant of their effects, and you end up needing more and more to feel an impact similar to the first-time one.

Opiates work by producing artificial endorphins in the brain, making you feel a sense of euphoria that wears off as your body’s tolerance continues to develop. Taking the prescribed dose will leave you craving for more. If you’re tempted to do it, you’ll end up taking more and hence start abusing the drug, which leads to addiction.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Opiate Addiction

The signs and symptoms that you’re addicted to opioids are similar to their resultant side effects. When you are addicted to opiates, you are likely to develop risky behaviors like stealing pills belonging to your friends and relatives, overdosing, and buying opioids from different sources.

Other physical signs that show opiate addiction include:

• Nausea
• Mental confusion
• Constipation
• Poor coordination
• Reduced sense of pain
• Needle marks
• Nose sore or runny nose
• Slowed breathing

Withdrawal symptoms that prove opiate addiction are muscle cramps, insomnia, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Opiate Addiction

Your doctor can diagnose opiate addiction through mental health disorder tests and other medical assessments.

Opiates addicts go through different treatment procedures to help them with the withdrawal process. This is because once you stop using opioids, you develop withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, abdominal pains, and vomiting. After diagnosis, your doctor will prescribe medicines like methadone, naltrexone, and buprenorphine to help relieve the withdrawal symptoms and control your craving for opioids.

When you realize that you are addicted to opioids, you should start committing yourself to quit them and seek support from friends and relatives. It is also crucial that you seek help from a qualified health practitioner to guide you through the withdrawal process.