You may have heard the phrase “opioid epidemic” used across the media and have questions about it.
The opioid addiction crisis is specifically referring to the increasing numbers of hospitalisations and deaths that are caused by opioids.
This is aggregated to include analogues, illegal drugs and prescription drugs. Death rates caused by overdoses of opioids are on the increase across the world and this is why words like “epidemic” and “crisis” are frequently used.
Opioids are very, very addictive drugs and getting hooked on them is all too easy. This means it is responsible for more deaths than any other drug.
What is Opioid Addiction?
An opioid is a type of drug that is derived from opium. Morphine, which is the most common natural opioid that you will find in opium, is a commonly used method of pain relief. Advances in medicine have identified ways to replicate the effects of morphine and make it weaker or stronger depending on requirements.
Opioids such as methadone were developed as a result of morphine shortages. Other opioids, such as heroin, rose in popularity in attempts to make less addictive drugs, but heroin would later become illegal. Opioids almost go hand in hand with pain relief.
Common opioids include Heroin, Codeine, Demerol, Methadone, Morphine and Tramadol.
If you want more information about the signs and symptoms of an opioid addiction, are researching getting help to combat an opioid addiction or the signs and symptoms of an opioid addiction, why not give Addiction Advocates a call?
We are experts at providing rehabilitation for opioid addiction and drug addiction and provide all of our customers with the same bespoke, personalised treatment, which will give you the best opportunity to overcome your drug addiction.
If you’d like more information about our private drug and alcohol rehab, please call us today on 0800 012 6088 or text HELP to 83222 for a private, informed conversation about opioid addiction.
Our staff will provide you with confidential, sympathetic information to help you make an informed choice about how you can take on your addiction.
What caused the Opioid crisis?
At the end of the last millennium, global pharmaceutical companies sought to assure the medical community that addictions to prescription opioid based pain relief would not happen. As such, healthcare providers went on to prescribe opioids at higher rates.
This has subsequently caused widespread misuse of these medications and they have been proven to be exceptionally addictive. Deaths are now on the rise as a result of opioid misuse around the globe and the United Kingdom is not excused from this.
If you are concerned that you are addicted to opioids, or are concerned about a friend or a loved one who is exhibiting symptoms and signs of a drug addiction, then we can provide help with addiction treatments, treatment plans, information about drug addiction and our drug detox programmes.
What causes an Opioid Addiction?
Many people who develop an opioid addiction do so as a result of receiving a prescription. Opioids are highly addictive which means that the human brain often simply craves more. It is only when the prescription has run its course that users realise that they have developed a dependency on opioids and require them to function normally.
At this stage, a user must seek professional help in combating drug addiction as they will need help with drug rehab and drug detox.
This is the point at which people turn to illegal drug use. Owing to the fact that prescription opioids are so expensive, addicts will then turn to cheaper and more potent substances such as heroin.
Other Types of Drug Addictions
More people die throughout the world of accidental opioid overdose than every other drug combined. This is why the phrase “opioid epidemic” was first created. Opioids are extremely addictive drugs and they can very quickly take control of someone’s life.
Where opioid addiction mainly deviates from other types of drug addictions is that many cases of opioid addiction develop as a result of prescription painkillers. Many people who go on to develop an drug addiction specific to opiates started with a simple pain relief prescription.
Signs and Symptoms of an Opioid Addiction
An opioid addiction can run through someone’s life in a matter of weeks. You may notice your own behaviour change and find yourself needing more and more of the opioid that you’ve become addicted to. Worse still, you may not appreciate that you have become addicted and before you know it your life is in tatters.
It is equally distressing watching a friend or loved one descend into addiction. You may notice someone lose a lot of weight quickly and become anti-social when they were previously not.
A work colleague may underperform significantly, to the extent that they lose their job, and it is not uncommon for an addict to experience significant financial difficulties as they spend all their money on their habit. This may then cause them to revert to dishonest behaviour in order to fund their habit.
If you recognise the signs of a drug addiction, it is important to take action without delay. Every day an addiction remains untreated causes it to worsen so prompt action can save a life. Addiction Advocates are available 24 hours a day.
Opioid Addiction Treatment
As opioids are so addictive, professional intervention is often required to break the dependency. Private drug and alcohol rehab is often the best way to overcome an addiction.
Private rehab allows you to spend time in a treatment facility away from your triggers and bad influences. You will need to fully commit yourself to your treatment, as overcoming the withdrawal symptoms will be difficult.
You may seek NHS treatment, but there is no aftercare provided with that kind of treatment plan, and there are long waits for the limited services that they offer.
With Addiction Advocates, you will offered aftercare support with a view to your long-term recovery and for the purposes of relapse prevention.
