Opioids such as oxycodone (Oxycontin), morphine, and heroin are medications that are prescribed by doctors for pain management. They work by lowering the number of pain signals sent to your brain.
But when used improperly or for an extended period of time, opioids can become addictive. This is called an opioid use disorder or substance abuse.
Craving
Cravings for opioids are a sign that your body and brain are dependent on the drug. This can be a dangerous situation, so you need to treat cravings and withdrawal symptoms in a timely manner.
Opioid addiction is associated with frequent and intense cravings, which can be triggered by stimuli such as the presence of drug paraphernalia or drug images in the environment. Other factors such as physiological withdrawal symptoms, related thoughts, and negative mood may also contribute to a craving.
Several medications can help reduce or eliminate cravings. They are called medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Other therapies include group therapy, relapse prevention training, vocational and educational services, mental health assessment and other resources. These are designed to help you overcome your addiction and manage your cravings while you recover.
Tolerance
Tolerance is a common problem associated with opioid addiction. It means that you may need more of a drug to achieve the same effect or feeling, and it can lead to overdose if you take too much at once.
Tolerance occurs when the body starts to respond less to a drug with repeated stimulation, or the body gets better at breaking down a drug over time. This can happen in a number of ways, including speeding up the metabolism, desensitizing nerve cells to the effects of the drug or excreting the drug faster through urine, feces or sweat.
Studies of tolerance have been carried out using both behavioural and cellular approaches. These studies have shown that tolerance develops in a variety of sites in the brain and spinal cord.
Dependence
Opioids are effective at relieving pain, but repeated use can cause people to develop tolerance and dependence. This means they need to take more opioids than prescribed to get the same effect or avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Symptoms of physical dependence include muscle cramping, diarrhea, nausea, dilated pupils, restlessness, anxiety and intense cravings. They are not life-threatening, but they can cause problems in many areas of a person’s life, including work and school.
There are several treatment options for opioid addiction. Depending on the center, these can include medication-assisted treatment (MAT), individual and group psychotherapy and social support.
Overdose
When people take opioids over a long period of time, they can develop a substance use disorder. This is a serious medical condition characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, even when the person is not experiencing pain or discomfort.
Overdoses occur when a toxic amount of a drug overwhelms the body, causing symptoms that may be life-threatening. They can also happen when people mix different drugs together, which is known as a drug cocktail.
There are many factors that contribute to opioid overdoses, including a high prescribed dosage, concurrent health conditions, and social circumstances. These factors can affect a person's ability to survive an overdose and should be considered when planning for and monitoring care for opioid patients.
Treatment
Often, people with opioid addiction need help to stop using the drug and learn ways to cope with life issues. Treatment can include medicines, counseling and support groups.
Medications such as methadone and buprenorphine decrease withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings and prevent relapse. They are called medication-assisted therapy (MAT).
Counseling and talk therapies help people identify what triggers their use of opioids, learn coping skills and build a stronger sense of self. They can also help families work through issues that are tied to the addiction.
Behavioral therapies like motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you change negative thoughts and feelings that lead to your addiction. Group counseling can also help you feel less alone and give you a chance to hear from others who are struggling with the same problems.
