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Fighting opioid disorder

People with an opioid disorder have an addiction to natural or man-made drugs known as opioids.1 Some opioids are legal such as prescription medication. But other opioids like heroin are illegal to make and distribute.2

Opioids are prescribed for toothache, back pain, or chronic illness.3 When an opioid disorder develops, the person’s life changes. The overuse of opioids can lead to irritability, mood swings, and difficulty performing daily tasks.4
But if you are dealing with an opioid disorder, you’re not alone. In the US, nearly 2.1 million people have an opioid disorder. Roughly 16 million people in the world have an opioid disorder.5 Yet opioid disorder doesn’t discriminate against age. Approximately 1.9 million adolescents had an opioid disorder in 2018.6

If you are dealing with an opioid disorder, please seek help because treatment is available.

Causes

An opioid disorder is caused by multiple reasons such as environment, genes, lifestyle, and the effects of opioid use on the brain.78 But the most significant influence is your brain’s reaction to the drugs. Opioids block pain and create artificial endorphins that increase feeling good. When too much opioid is consumed, your brain relies on artificial endorphins. In turn, your body and mind can’t function without the drugs.9

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of opioid disorder include:

  • Using larger than required amounts of drugs
  • Taking drugs for longer than needed for an extended period
  • Constant craving for the drugs
  • Unable to reduce use of the drugs
  • Wasting time trying to obtain the drugs
  • Unable to complete school, work, or personal responsibilities
  • Continuing to use the drugs even though your health is negatively impacted10

However, this isn’t a definitive list of signs and symptoms. If you think an opioid disorder is present, contact mental health services.

Treatments

Treatment for opioid disorder might look different for each person. However, being open to change is part of the treatment process. A common treatment for opioid disorder includes:
  • Behavioral therapies and counseling
  • Medication
  • Medication-assisted therapy (MAT)
  • Hospital-based or residential treatment
Individual counseling offers cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and contingency management options. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help clients alter their way of thinking and develop coping skills for symptoms. Enhancement therapy aims to increase self-esteem to remain in treatment. Contingency management offers incentives for staying free of drugs. But group and family counseling might provide support from peers and loved ones.11 Medications used to treat opioid disorder are methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Medication-assisted therapy includes counseling, behavioral therapy, and medication.12

Recommendations

Opioid disorder doesn’t have to be a life sentence. Put an end to the merry-go-round of relapsing by seeking help now. Honor First is equipped to treat your opioid disorder through the comfort of virtual mental health therapy. We provide flexibility so you can schedule appointments around your life. Take a leap towards reclaiming your wellness, and contact us today.

Works Cited

American Psychiatric Association. “Opioid Use Disorder | Psychiatry.org.” www.psychiatry.org, 2018,

www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction/opioid-use-disorder. Accessed 3 Apr. 2022.

Dydyk, Alexander M., et al. “Opioid Use Disorder.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 2020,

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553166/. Accessed 3 Apr. 2022.

familydoctor.org editorial staff. “Opioid Addiction: Signs & Treatment – Familydoctor.org.” Familydoctor.org, 1 July 2006,

familydoctor.org/condition/opioid-addiction/. Accessed 3 Apr. 2022.

Hudgins, Joel D., et al. “Prescription Opioid Use and Misuse among Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States: A National Survey Study.” PLOS Medicine, vol. 16, no. 11, 5 Nov. 2019, p. e1002922, journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002922, 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002922. Accessed 3 Apr. 2022.
MedlinePlus. “Opioid Addiction: MedlinePlus Genetics.” Medlineplus.gov, 18 Aug. 2020, medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/opioid-addiction/. Accessed 3 Apr. 2022.

—. “Opioid Misuse and Addiction Treatment.” Medlineplus.gov, National Library of Medicine, 2019, medlineplus.gov/opioidmisuseandaddictiontreatment.html. Accessed 3 Apr. 2022.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. “What Is Heroin and How Is It Used?” National Institute on Drug Abuse, nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/heroin/what-heroin. Accessed 3 Apr. 2022.

1 https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction/opioid-use-disorder
2 https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/heroin/what-heroin
3 https://familydoctor.org/condition/opioid-addiction/
4 https://familydoctor.org/condition/opioid-addiction/
5 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553166/
6 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6830740/#:~:text=Opioid%20misuse%20or%20use%20disorder,8.2%3B%20P%20%3C%200.001
7 https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/opioid-addiction/#causes
8 https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/opioid-addiction/#causes
9 https://familydoctor.org/condition/opioid-addiction/
10 https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/addiction/opioid-use-disorder
11https://medlineplus.gov/opioidmisuseandaddictiontreatment.html”https://medlineplus.gov/opioidmisuseandaddictiontreatment.html
12 https://medlineplus.gov/opioidmisuseandaddictiontreatment.html
13 https://medlineplus.gov/opioidmisuseandaddictiontreatment.html