What are Opiates?
Opiates are a powerful drug that can take over an individual’s mind, body and soul. Opiates come in many legal forms such as Morphine, Oxycodone, Fentanyl, and Codeine which can be obtained with a prescription by a doctor or a dealer. Then there is Heroin and Opium which are illegal opiates that you can only get on the streets. Both classes of drugs are equally as addictive and dangerous. Jay was addicted to legal Opiates, but obtained them illegally. He was a regular guy until an addiction to prescription pain killers took over his life. He held it together well and people did not know he was abusing Opiates until his friend saw the signs and symptoms of abuse.
Signs and Symptoms of Opiate Abuse
Opiates release a euphoric feeling when used by some people; they are usually prescribed for the treatment of pain. When used for pain relief, the individual may build a tolerance to the drug. When people build a tolerance, it causes them to use more and more to achieve the same feeling, making them get addicted and they will do anything to get more. Other people like Jay use opiates to escape the world. However, the signs and symptoms of abuse will be the same no matter how you became addicted.
Some physical signs of Opiate abuse are:
- Euphoria
- Apprehension
- Agitation
- Manipulation
- Poor Judgment
- Inability to Make Decisions
- Numbness or Inability to Feel Pain
- Small Pupils
- Money Problems
Jay was acting differently and his roommate offered to help. When it came to getting help, Jay knew he was going to have to go through withdrawal. In order to get the most out of treatment your body needs to be cleared of all toxic chemicals drugs contain. This is where detoxification comes in.
Withdrawal and Detoxification
The withdrawal from opiates can be extremely uncomfortable. Whether the drugs were prescribed by a doctor or an individual was using them illegally, they will still experience the pain of withdrawal. The intensity of withdrawal depends upon how much and how often the drug was abused.
Some signs of Opiate withdrawal are:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Runny Nose
- Insomnia
If the thought of withdrawal is keeping you from getting treatment- look into going to a medically supervised detox facility. In medical detox a doctor will prescribe medications to make the pain of withdrawal more comfortable. Since detox only takes care of the body, treatment will be needed to treat the mind and soul.
Treatment for Opiates
To treat the mind and soul an individual will need to go through treatment. In treatment, there will be a multitude of different therapies. All therapies will get to the root cause of your addiction and give you the tools and means to stay clean and sober for good.
If you are struggling with Opiate abuse you are not alone. There are several people out there who are struggling with addiction and there is hope. Although addiction is a disease with no known cure it can be maintained with the proper treatment. If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction give us a call. We are happy to help and believe in you. (866) 578-7471.
