There are a lot of substances to which someone may be addicted. One of the most common examples includes opioids. Unfortunately, opioid addiction stemming from abuse or inadvertent misuse of prescription opioid drugs continues to be a major issue in society today. Opioids are supposed to be used to help people control short-term, acute, and severe pain. However, many people use them to control pain for weeks, months, or even years. Unfortunately, these drugs are incredibly addictive, leading to an opioid epidemic that has ripped families apart. Therefore, you need to understand drugs are classified as opioids. Midwest Recovery Center understands the impact opioid addiction has had on individuals and families. We can offer support and healing, so reach out to us today at 833.627.0039.
What Are Opioids?
If you are wondering, “what are opioids?” the term refers to drugs that bind specifically to opioid receptors in the brain. These receptors in the central nervous system play a role in modulating how the body interprets pain signals. When your body is in pain, some signals travel from the hurt or injured part of your body and deliver the signal to your brain. Often, the brain interprets these pain signals using opioid receptors.
Opioid drugs are meant to block these signals. Opioid drugs will bind directly to opioid receptors in the brain, preventing them from being used by pain signals. Therefore, many doctors will use opioid medications and an effort to blunt pain. Unfortunately, if these medications are used for prolonged amounts of time, they can lead to addiction.
What Are a Few Examples of Opioid Medications?
There are lots of different types of opioid medications. Some of them are taken orally. Others might be injected directly into the body. Some opioid medications are delivered via IV, while others might even be given as a patch on the skin. Some of the most common examples of opioid medications that people may take include:
- Oxycodone, which is also called Oxycontin
- Hydrocodone, which is also called Vicodin
- Morphine
- Codeine
- Fentanyl
- Heroin
- Percocet
Many of these medications also have nicknames, including oxy, OC, happy pills, percs, and vikes. Even though there are some slight differences in these medications, such as how long they last, all of them are designed to help people control pain. Unfortunately, all of them are addictive as well.
What Are the Signs of Opioid Addiction?
Many of these opioid medications are addictive, specifically because of the “high” feeling they create. When people take opioid medications, they trigger the pleasure centers of the brain. Therefore, the brain may create an internal drive to seek out this feeling once again. This is how an opioid addiction develops.
There are several signs that someone may be suffering from opioid addiction. For example, some people may be in serious financial trouble because they spend all of their money trying to find opioid medications on the street. Individuals may also develop fevers, shakes, and chills when they go for too long without opioids. Finally, some people may intentionally hurt themselves and effort to get more opioids from a doctor via prescription. Anyone who is experiencing these signs or symptoms needs to reach out for professional help. That is where we come in.
Contact Midwest Recovery Center Today for Help With Opioids
Even though opioids have their place in medicine, and opioid addiction is hazardous. At Midwest Recovery Center, we can help you with an addiction to opioid drugs. Our team of professionals can help you get the addiction therapy necessary to deal with the mental and emotional aspects of addiction as you enter the right treatment program to meet your needs. We take great pride in our services, and our experts will work with you one-on-one to develop a recovery plan that will focus on coping skills and long-term sobriety. Contact us today at 833.627.0039, or contact us online to make an appointment with an admissions counselor.
