Opioid Addiction

What are opioids?

Opioid drugs alter how your mind works, relieving severe and chronic pain. There are naturally occurring ones derived from the opium poppy plant (opiates) and synthetic ones created in labs.

Opioid drugs have valuable psychoactive effects that help people in pain. However, their addictive properties can cause misuse, physical dependence, distressing withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking them, and overdose deaths.

Common opioid drugs include:

• Heroin
• Codeine
• Morphine
• Fentanyl
• Oxycodone
• Hydrocodone
• Tramadol

Heroin is an illegal narcotic used solely for recreational purposes. Other opioids are legal prescription drugs of varying strengths. They affect the opioid receptors in your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), interfering with them so you don’t feel pain. Opioids can also cause intensely pleasant euphoric feelings.

How do I know if I’ve got an opioid addiction?

Symptoms of opioid addiction include:

• Increased anxiety
• Depression
• Irritability
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Difficulty sleeping
• Agitation
• Loss of interest in other activities
• Spending excessive time using or recovering from opioids
• Unsuccessful attempts to stop taking opioids

As opioid addiction worsens, you might slur your speech or develop increased sensitivity to light, sound, and other stimuli.

Some people become addicted after taking multiple pain medication courses, while others seek out illicit heroin to experience a high.

If you misuse opioids, your brain function changes over time. Stopping opioids suddenly when you have an addiction can be dangerous. You may experience dramatic increases in cravings plus symptoms like nausea, sweating, palpitations (rapid, pounding heartbeat), fever, and shaking. Opioid withdrawal symptoms could cause severe sickness and possibly death.

What treatments help with opioid addiction?

Opioid addiction treatment uses a dual approach combining counseling and medication known as medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Getting to know others during group therapy and listening to them talk about their addiction helps you identify your triggers and understand that you aren’t alone.

The Magnolia Medical Group team uses drugs that mimic opioids’ effects on the central nervous system and reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

Buprenorphine (brand names Suboxone®, Sublocade®, and Zubsolv®) treats illicit opioid addiction and prescription opioid dependency. Naloxone reverses opioid overdose effects, which can easily happen with opioid addiction. Naltrexone (Vivitrol®) can also treat opioid use disorder in addition to alcohol addiction.

To learn more about successfully treating opioid addiction, call Magnolia Medical Group and arrange a consultation, or complete the online booking form today.