America is experiencing an opioid addiction epidemic. The problem started in the 1990s when doctors began to overprescribe opiates as painkillers but didn’t realize how addictive these painkillers could be. Now the United States is facing a massive opioid addiction crisis.
In 2020, 75% of the 91,799 drug overdose deaths involved opioids. Whether addiction begins with prescription painkillers or casual use of natural or synthetic opioids, these drugs are highly addictive and carry a high risk of overdose.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids can help reduce pain and give a sense of euphoria. This class of drugs includes illegal drugs like heroin, synthetic drugs like fentanyl, and prescription drugs like Oxytocin and Vicodin. Due to the feeling of euphoria created, they can be highly addictive. Opioids are composed of several types described below.
Prescription Opioids
Prescription opioids include hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (Oxycotin and Percocet), oxymorphone (Opana), morphine, and codeine. Doctors typically prescribe these medications for pain relief. A doctor might prescribe an opioid for someone post-surgically, with chronic pain, or with a severe illness such as cancer.
Even prescription opioids can be addictive for people who take them, especially if they take them chronically or misuse them. It’s common for people to take more opioids than they are prescribed because of the substances’ euphoric effects.
People who take opioids for a long time can build up a tolerance, meaning they need to take more to feel the same effects. It’s also very common for a person who takes opioids long-term to develop an addiction, so much so that one in four people prescribed opioids for an extended period has developed an addiction.
Heroin
Heroin is an illegal drug made from morphine. Morphine comes from the seed pod of opium poppy plants. Heroin gives the effect of rushing euphoria, but it comes with many adverse short-term and long-term side effects such as insomnia, kidney disease, and clouded mental functioning.
Overdoses are a severe threat with heroin use. In 2020, over 19% of opioid overdose deaths were from heroin. It’s also common for people who use heroin to also use a secondary substance such as cocaine or alcohol. Thankfully, it seems that the number of heroin users is decreasing. Unfortunately, it’s because people have moved to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
Fentanyl
Fentanyl was initially prescribed to patients with severe pain, such as the pain experienced during late-stage cancer or after major surgery. Today, most fentanyl users in the United States acquire the drug from illegal markets. Fentanyl is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. This drug contributes to most overdoses in the U.S.
Fentanyl has also become dangerous because it is added to other drug products to increase potency. Those who manufacture illegal drugs, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin, may add fentanyl to their products to make them cheaper and more addictive.
This mixing of drugs, often without the user’s knowledge, is extremely dangerous because a person taking these drugs won’t know what dosage they are taking. The result is the potential for extreme reactions and overdose. Over 150 people a day die from a fentanyl overdose.
What Makes Opioid Addiction So Dangerous?
Opioids are highly addictive, making them harder to quit than most drugs. Whether opioid addiction started because of a prescription or from illegal pills, opioid addiction is serious business.
One reason people become addicted to opioids is because of the feelings of pleasure that it gives. This can cause people to want to seek that feeling more and more.
Opioids also have dangerous side effects. Lower doses of opioids can cause a person to feel sleepy. Higher doses can slow breathing and lower heart rate, which can be deadly. Higher amounts are often consumed because it’s easy for people to build a tolerance, thus requiring them to take more and more to have the same effect.
Opioids sold illegally can also be extremely dangerous because it’s hard to know what is in the drug. Illegal drug manufacturers can produce counterfeit pills that are meant to look like the real thing but might have different ingredients, making them a huge risk.
In order to cut down on the chances of addiction, opioids should only be taken as prescribed. People should avoid taking more than the prescribed dose or for longer than prescribed. Individuals worried they might have developed an addiction or dependency on prescribed pills should talk to their doctor immediately.
Signs of an Opioid Addiction
Individuals who are unsure if they or a loved one has an addiction to opioids should know the symptoms and pay attention to behaviors. Signs of opioid addiction include at least two of the following:
- Opioids are taken in more significant amounts or for more extended periods than prescribed.
- It’s difficult to cut down or control opioid use.
- A lot of time is spent trying to get, use, or recover from opioids.
- The person experiences a craving, strong desire, or urge to use opioids.
- Using opioids conflicts or detracts from work, home, or school obligations.
- Opioid use is continued despite its adverse effects on interpersonal relationships.
- Once important activities are given up or reduced due to opioid use.
- Opioids are used in situations where it’s physically hazardous.
- The use of opioids continues despite the psychological or physiological problems the use might cause.
- Increased tolerance causes the person to increase their use to get the same effects.
- Quitting opioid use causes symptoms of withdrawal.
- Opioids are taken to relieve symptoms of withdrawal.
People who misuse opioids often attempt to hide their addiction. Some behaviors consistent with opioid addiction are that the individual often seems to be hiding something, is gone for hours without explanation, or tends to isolate themselves.
How You Can Help
Opioid overdose is often fatal. However, naloxone is a medication that can be given during an overdose to potentially save a life.
The Importance Of Naloxone
Naloxone is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose by blocking the effects of opioids. After administering naloxone, a person experiencing an overdose can restore breathing within two to three minutes. Naloxone can be administered as a nasal spray or through an autoinjector.
Naloxone nasal spray is a prefilled medication that is sprayed into the nose. Autoinjectors are injected into the outer thigh.
Naloxone can be a significant lifesaver. It is recommended that naloxone should be available for use in public places, first aid kits, education centers, and workplaces. Individuals who know someone at risk for an opioid overdose should keep naloxone readily available.
Signs of an Opioid Overdose
It is essential to recognize an opioid overdose so that action can be taken before it’s too late. Signs of an opioid overdose are:
- Falling asleep or losing consciousness
- Small or pinpoint pupils
- Slow, weak breathing or no breathing
- Choking or gurgling
- Discolored skin, especially around the lips and nails
- Limp body
- Cold skin
When someone is displaying these symptoms, 911 should be called, the person should be turned to their side, and naloxone should be administered if available.
Getting Treatment for Opioid Addiction
People living with opioid addiction are often scared to ask for help. There is so much stigma around addiction that people may be afraid to admit that they have a problem. Support should be sought as soon as possible. The longer an addiction goes on, the more severe it can get. The more severe the addiction gets, the harder it is to get better. While admitting one has a problem can be scary, it is a necessary first step toward solving the problem.
Start With Medically Assisted Detox
The first step to healing from addiction is starting medically assisted detox. There is an emphasis on medical assistance because it’s extremely difficult and nearly impossible to quit opioids without medication.
Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and dangerous, leading to unsuccessful attempts to quit opioid use. Medically assisted detox provides safety while going through withdrawal symptoms. This stage of treatment is often the hardest, but it is a necessary part of treatment.
Enter Residential Treatment
After detox, a person typically enters into addiction treatment, depending on their personal needs. There are plenty of options available such as residential treatment or outpatient treatment.
A 90-day residential treatment program is the most recommended, especially for severe addictions. Ninety days tend to be the standard because most withdrawal symptoms last at least three months but can last up to a year, depending on the severity of the addiction. Ninety days also allow for people with addiction to focus on deeper issues that might contribute to the addiction.
Sober Living
After graduating from a treatment program, a person needs to consider the next steps. Since opioid addiction is tough to recover from, it can be hard to transition from treatment to everyday life. Individuals might get exposed to things that could trigger them, such as stress, familiar places, or even the drug itself. Therefore, moving into a sober living house should be considered.
Sober living houses offer a temporary living environment that promotes a focus on recovery. Recoverees can take this time to apply the things they learned in treatment to the real world with a safety net. This safe space can practice life skills, coping mechanisms, and healthy habits. Sober living also allows people to connect with others who also struggle with addiction and can provide support during recovery.
The opioid epidemic is a serious problem in the United States, which is why it’s important to know why opioid addiction is serious. It really is a matter of life or death. Too many lives have been lost to this epidemic. Learning about opioids and educating others is one of the many steps we need to take in order to stop this epidemic. If people in your life or your community struggle with opioid addiction, it’s vital that you take the steps necessary to ensure their safety. Screen for opioid addiction, make sure your loved ones are taking prescription pills properly, and keep naloxone on hand, especially in offices and community centers. To learn more about what you can do to help, or for any more information about opioids, call Real Recovery today at (727) 290-9156. We are here to help and answer any questions that you have.
