Opioid Addiction

What is an Opioid?

An opioid is a type of drug commonly used to treat pain. It works by blocking pain signals in the brain and can also create feelings of euphoria or a "high." While opioids are very effective for pain relief, they can be highly addictive and lead to serious health problems if misused.

Types of Opioids

Prescription Opioids:

They are commonly prescribed to manage pain. They come in various forms, such as pills, liquids, or patches. Here are some of the most common prescription opioids:

• Oxycodone
• Hydrocodone
• Morphine
• Codeine

Synthetic Opioids:

These are man-made drugs that are often more potent than natural opioids. They are commonly prescribed for severe pain but can be extremely dangerous if misused.

• Fentanyl
• Methadone

Illegal Opioids:

Illegal opioids are substances that are not prescribed by medical professionals and are typically abused. These substances are highly addictive and come with serious health risks. For example, Heroine.

What is Opioid addiction?

Opioid addiction is a chronic condition that alters brain function, driving a compulsive desire for opioids. By acting on the opioid receptors of the brain, opioids – which include prescription medications, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, as well as illegal drugs, like heroin – produce an intense, pleasurable feeling, or “high,” often combined with a fleeting sense of pain relief. Opioids are highly addictive, especially when misused.

Addiction happens when a person can no longer control their need to use opioids, even when they are no longer medically necessary. This compulsion can have devastating consequences for a person’s relationships and career and may contribute significantly to declining health.

What is Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)?

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is the clinical term for opioid addiction. OUD is a pattern of opioid use that leads to significant distress or impairment in one’s daily life. With OUD, there is typically a compulsion to take the drug despite it causing harm.

The risk of developing OUD increases with the misuse of opioids, such as taking more than what a doctor has prescribed or using someone else’s prescription. Misuse also raises the risk of overdose, which can be fatal if not treated promptly.

What Causes Opioid Addiction?

Addiction to opioids depends on a very complex combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors.

• Genetics: Possibly, variations in genes that code for the opioid system of the body increase susceptibility.
• Psychological Issues: Conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD increase susceptibility. Traumatic events or abuse during childhood may also increase vulnerability.
• Environmental Factors: Some other specific factors are the availability of opioids, either through prescription or otherwise. Social groups, poverty, and lack of support systems further add to the addiction problem.

Opioids, including fentanyl, are particularly addictive when taken in ways not prescribed by a physician, like crushing pills into powder to snort or inject, increasing their potent effects and increasing the risk of dependence.

What are the effects of Opioid addiction?

Opioid addiction can lead to serious physical, psychological, and social consequences, impacting nearly every aspect of a person’s life. Here are some common effects:

Short-term effects of opioid addiction include:

• Sedation (drowsiness)
• Confusion or mental fogginess
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation
• Respiratory depression: slow, shallow breathing

Long-term effects of opioid addiction include:

• Dependence, which indicates the development of resistance.
• Physical dependence, withdrawal symptoms when use is stopped
• Increased sensitivity to pain (hyperalgesia)
• Immune system dysfunction
• Sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea, among others.
• Hormonal imbalance
• Increased risk of overdose and death

Why are Opioids Addictive?

Opioids affect the chemistry of the brain by releasing endorphins that, after that, create a feeling of euphoria or pain relief. After some time, that effect becomes diminished, and higher doses are required to produce that relief; this is what is known as tolerance. Continued use results in dependence, with the brain and body adapting to the presence of the drug. When usage is stopped, withdrawal symptoms will result.

Dependence is not the same as addiction, but the compulsive need for opioids certainly can lead to addiction.

Can You Overdose on Opioids?

An opioid overdose occurs when a person consumes an amount of opioids that is harmful, and more than the body can handle. The intake triggers a chain reaction that upsets normal body functions, which could include breathing. The person could become unconscious, stop breathing, or even die.

Symptoms of opioid overdose may include

• Very slow, shallow breathing
• Pupils that constrict
• Loss of consciousness
• Pale or clammy skin

Opioid overdose deaths rose from nearly 50,000 in 2019 to 81,806 in 2022 in the United States alone. While immediate help in case of overdose with a medication called naloxone can restore normal breathing and halt the progression that leads to overdose death, medical help is still important right away.

What are the Signs of Opioid Withdrawal?

An individual physically dependent on opioids will begin to develop withdrawal symptoms within hours of their last dose. The symptoms are uncomfortable, although rarely life-threatening; however, they can be intense.

Symptoms of opioid withdrawal include

• Sweating and chills
• Aching and cramping of muscles
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sleeplessness
• Anxiety and irritability

Symptoms of withdrawal peak at about 72 hours after the last dose and can continue for days and even weeks. Symptoms are moderated with medications such as methadone or buprenorphine to prevent relapse.

What are the treatments for Opioid addiction?

Opioid addiction treatment usually takes a combination of pharmacological intervention combined with behavioral treatments. Outpatient treatment programs may often include one of many residential treatment centers or a dedicated opioid treatment facility. Key treatment modalities include the following:

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT):

• Methadone: Suppresses their desire for narcotics and lessens the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Available only at licensed clinics under careful supervision.
• Buprenorphine: It blocks the effects of other narcotics and is available for prescription by specially trained and certified health care providers. It is often used in concert with naloxone to discourage diversion.
• Naltrexone: Non-opioid medication blocking opioid receptors; it will block the euphoric effects of opioid use. In addiction treatment, it is often used to prevent relapse.

Behavioral therapies:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): This is a way of helping the patient learn to identify and modify negative thought patterns and behaviors associated with drug use.
• Contingency management: Provides rewards for positive behaviors like abstinence.
• Motivational enhancement therapy (MET): It builds motivation for change and commitment to recovery.
• Family counseling: It helps the individual and their family understand and deal with the effects of drug addiction.
• Mutual-help groups: These are the practical peer-support networks that have been of help and assurance to addicts; Narcotics Anonymous is one good example.
• Harm reduction education: The education on overdose prevention, safe syringe use, and the use of naloxone will save the lives of people not ready to start full treatment.
• Sober living homes: These provide stable, supportive settings that enable individuals to maintain their state of sobriety and avoid relapse. Sober living houses try to uphold accountability and peer support, which is very crucial during sustained recovery.