Opioid use disorder is a serious condition resulting from drug abuse and substance abuse, leading to a high risk of opioid use and potential drug overdoses. Understanding the warning signs of drug addiction and drug abuse is crucial for early intervention and effective treatment. This article explores the key indicators of opioid addiction, emphasizing the importance of recognizing these signs to treat opioid dependency and prevent severe consequences. Early detection can be lifesaving in combating the growing epidemic of opioid addiction.
The Raleigh Rehab Center provides comprehensive support for those struggling with opioid addiction, addressing withdrawal symptoms and the challenges of opioid abuse and misuse. The center specializes in treating drug addiction and substance use disorder, offering tailored programs to combat physical dependence and manage pain. By focusing on safe and effective methods to use opioids for medical purposes, including the use of medications, Raleigh Rehab Center helps individuals achieve sustainable recovery and reclaim their lives.
The experts at our Raleigh rehab center know how easy it is to slip into opioid addiction. This is not the kind of drug people buy illicitly from dealers. It is medication they are prescribed by their doctors. Surely, you can trust your doctor’s decisions for your health and well-being.
Unfortunately, we are already talking about an opioid epidemic at the national level, responsible for almost 50,000 deaths each year.
Here are the most common signs and symptoms of opioid addiction. If you or a loved one need help with addiction, contact us today at 984-223-5341.
General Signs
People who start abusing prescription medication often run out of the prescribed dose ahead of time. They often manage to get new prescriptions from different doctors or travel to different drug stores to refill a prescription.
This is the first red flag you should be aware of. If you finish the pills prescribed for one month by the 15th or the 20th, then you are taking more than you were prescribed. As your body becomes used to the medicine, it no longer responds to the standard dose.
This is how opioid addiction starts. Also, you start taking the pill “just in case,” even if you are not in pain. This shows that your body craves the opioid itself, not the relief from pain it provides.
Finally, you start spending a lot of time looking for ways to replenish your stock of opioids. As stated above, many people who slipped into opioid addiction start shopping for doctors or drug stores that could help them obtain the drug.
Physical Symptoms of Drug Abuse
Opioid addiction manifests through several physical symptoms that severely impact the body. Individuals experiencing opioid misuse often suffer from severe pain due to chronic pain conditions, leading to dependency from frequently taking opioids. Withdrawal symptoms, such as muscle aches, nausea, and sweating, are common when opioid use is reduced or stopped, exacerbating opioid cravings. The risk of opioid overdoses increases with prolonged misuse, which can be fatal. These physical manifestations highlight the critical need for proper treatment and support to manage addiction and mitigate its effects on the body.
Opiates start taking a toll on your body after a period of increased use. Most patients we treat at our Raleigh rehab center exhibit the following symptoms:
- Significant weight loss without dieting
- Reduced motor skills and coordination
- Various digestive complaints, including vomiting and diarrhea
- Pupil constriction even in poor lighting conditions
- Constant drowsiness
- Reduced respiratory rate.
Cognitive Symptoms of Opioid Addiction
Opioid drugs have a negative impact on how your brain works. Victims of opioid addiction find it difficult to concentrate on a task or maintain a conversation topic. More serious symptoms involve:
- Slowed thinking and reactions, even to dangers (such as pulling your hand away from a hot surface)
- Impaired judgment and problem-solving
- Feelings of detachment from your surroundings.
Opioid use disorder significantly impacts cognitive function, leading to various symptoms that affect the mind and body. Withdrawal symptoms can include confusion and memory loss, exacerbating the challenges of substance abuse. Opioid abuse disrupts brain chemistry, increasing risk factors for developing a substance use disorder and mental illness. According to the American Psychiatric Association and Human Services, this disruption contributes to a broader public health crisis, highlighting the need for comprehensive mental health care to address these cognitive impairments and support recovery.
These negative symptoms will soon have a negative impact on your professional, social, and personal life, so you should seek help as soon as you notice people making you aware of these issues.
Behavioral Symptoms
Behavioral symptoms of opioid addiction often reveal a problematic pattern of substance use, impacting various aspects of an individual’s life. Those suffering from opioid addiction may frequently use prescription opioids, not just for pain relief but also to prevent or avoid withdrawal symptoms. This misuse can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, agitation, and insomnia when access to opioids is limited.
Mental disorders often co-occur, compounding the challenges faced by individuals and their families. The addiction can strain relationships with family and friends, as affected individuals may become secretive or isolated. They may also engage in risky behaviors to obtain opioids, increasing the likelihood of an overdose. Recognizing these behavioral signs is crucial for timely intervention and support to prevent further harm.
In time, these changed behaviors will cause most people to distance themselves from the person suffering from addiction. This makes it harder to find a reliable support system during recovery.
Psychological Symptoms
Opioid addiction induces several psychological symptoms, significantly altering an individual’s mental state. Drug abuse, particularly with prescription pain relievers, affects opioid receptors in the brain, leading to dependency and cravings. Risk factors like taking opioids in higher doses or mixing them with substances such as heroin, fentanyl, or alcohol, exacerbate mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and mood swings. These potential consequences highlight the severe impact of opioid addiction. Treatments focusing on mental health aim to address these symptoms and prevent overdoses by providing comprehensive care and support. Using opioids responsibly and under medical supervision is crucial to avoid these detrimental effects.
Overusing opioids also has a negative impact on your emotional well-being. Some of the most frequent negative symptoms involve:
- Extreme emotional swings
- Sudden, unprovoked violent outbursts
- Paranoia
- Depression.
As opioid addiction progresses, the patient may slip into a distorted perception of reality, making them effectively unable to function at work and in society.
Let Our Raleigh Rehab Center Specialists Help You!
In conclusion, the Raleigh Rehab Center is dedicated to helping individuals overcome opioid misuse and its devastating effects. Prescription opioids, when misused, can disrupt daily life and lead to severe withdrawal symptoms. For those with a family history of substance abuse, the risk is even higher. Family physicians and family members play a crucial role in recognizing the signs of addiction, influenced by environmental factors. Seeking help from Raleigh Rehab Center can provide the necessary support and treatment for a longer period, ensuring a healthier future for you and your loved ones.
If you are reading this, you are probably asking yourself if you are at risk of opioid addiction. And if you recognized any of the signs and symptoms we described here, then you really need our help.
Our therapists have extensive experience and use tested and proven treatments to help you fight addiction to opioid drugs. We will create a personalized plan, which involves your family and any loved ones you trust.
Do not wait any longer! Call our Raleigh rehab center at 984-223-5341 to schedule your initial appointment.
