How does opioid addiction occur? Opioids are one of the most commonly prescribed types of drugs that individuals use to handle their pain issues. However, these drugs can quickly become addictive, and while they may provide short-term relief, they can lead to more serious issues down the road. Opioids are a class of drugs that go beyond just relieving pain by making you feel good. These drugs can give you euphoric effects and make you feel high. They include prescription drugs like Oxycontin and Vicodin and illegal narcotics. These include heroin and Fentanyl. This article will look at how opioid addiction occurs and how individuals can learn to overcome this situation by finding a good opioid addiction rehab online.
What Is Opioid Addiction?
According to NIDA’s Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide (Third Edition), “they define addiction as a treatable disease that affects the human brain. There are several treatment options for everyone. Opioid addiction is a chronic disease that can be effectively treated but not cured. Addiction treatment for opioids should be customized for each person and address the individual’s primary drug of abuse and any co-occurring medical, psychiatric, and social issues.
Opioid addiction is a brain disorder characterized by compulsive use despite negative consequences. Individuals with opioid addictions experience both physical and psychological dependency on opioids. Opioid addiction is a chronic disease characterized by seeking drugs uncontrollably and using them despite harmful consequences and changes in the brain, which can be long-lasting. These changes in the brain can lead to the harmful behaviors seen in people who use drugs. Drug addiction is also a relapsing disease. Relapse is the return to drug use after an attempt to stop.
I think the concept of “opioid addiction” can be misleading because it implies that the person who is addicted has chosen to engage in a behavior and is aware of it. They choose to use opioids because they have a neurotransmitter abnormality that makes them feel compelled. In that sense, it’s similar to someone with an eating disorder or a hoarding problem.
The easiest way to explain this is to go through what happens during stimulation and withdrawal in the brain. When you take an opioid (or heroin or any opioid agonist), your opioid receptors get stimulated. The most well-known function of these receptors is their role in pain transmission – when you get cut, the opioid receptors on your nerves help tell your brain that you’re hurt. But they also have other functions as well.
When an opioid binds to an opioid receptor, it stimulates the release of dopamine (the primary neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of reward) in several areas of the brain, including the nucleus accumbens (a region where many drugs act). It also acts on GABA neurons, which help slow down the firing rate of other neurons in the brain, resulting in relaxation and euphoria. These two effects are why opioids are
People with opioid use disorder have difficulties accomplishing daily tasks at work, school, or home, engaging in recreational activities, and maintaining personal relationships. They also often experience financial problems and legal issues because of their addiction to opioids.
Signs of Opioid Addiction
- Constipation.
- Drowsiness
- Euphoria.
- Itching
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Nodding off or falling asleep at inappropriate times
- Poor coordination
- Slow breathing
- Slowed heart rate
- Small pupils (pinpoint size]
- Slurred speech
- Sweating
- Weight loss or gain without diet changes.
Many individuals struggling with an opioid addiction decide to enroll in an outpatient or inpatient- opioid addiction rehab program to stop using drugs and learn how to manage the recovery process. Opioid rehab programs can help people overcome the physical, emotional, and behavioral effects of opioid addiction through various treatment methods, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs, behavioral therapy, support groups, and other services.
As with any addiction, many factors can lead to an individual possessing opioid dependence. The most common causes of opioid addiction are those with a history of depression, anxiety, or emotional trauma and those with a family history of substance abuse. Due to the emotional nature of opioids, they are often used as a substitution for food or stimulants during periods of homesickness and isolation. Those with lower self-esteem and confidence are more likely to become dependent on opioids through medications that contain it as a ‘mood enhancer.’ Although uncommon, one might also develop opioid addiction through prescription medication to treat cancer, or chronic pain once said medication had been taken regularly for a long period.
