Opioids are highly addictive, producing feelings of euphoria but also leading to serious consequences like neglected responsibilities, health issues, and even death.
While challenging, stopping the cycle of opioid addiction is possible. Harmony Treatment and Wellness is here to help you get your life back. Read on to learn more about opioid addiction and how we can support your journey to recovery.
What Is Considered an Opioid Addiction?
Opioids are prescribed for pain management, typically for chronic pain. They’re also called narcotics. Opiates refer to natural compounds derived from plants. Meanwhile, opioids are synthetic or lab-made drugs.
Opioid addiction or opioid use disorder (OUD) is a long-lasting medical condition that drives a strong urge to use these drugs even without medical need, causing distress and disrupting daily life.
Taking opioids, even as directed for severe pain, or using them repeatedly or for prolonged periods can lead to dependence. Misusing an opioid for its pleasurable effects can also lead to opioid abuse and physical dependence.
At Harmony Treatment and Wellness, we help you break your dependence on opioids by treating withdrawal symptoms, teaching you coping skills, and addressing health issues that lent to your addiction.
What Are the Causes of Opioid Addiction?
Initially, a person may take opioids to experience euphoria. This euphoria occurs because opioids activate the brain’s reward centers, releasing endorphins that offer pain relief and produce pleasure.
However, this sense of well-being only lasts a while and fades fast. A strong desire to regain those pleasurable feelings can set in, leading to addiction. With repeated use, your body makes less endorphins, causing you to build tolerance, or needing higher doses of the drug to experience the same effect.
As your use of opioid continues, the brain and body become dependent on the drug to function. When opioid use stops, withdrawal symptoms arise as the body struggles without the drug.
Who Is at Risk for Opioid Addiction?
The exact reasons why some people are more vulnerable to opioid addiction than others are still unknown, but a combination of risk factors likely plays a role. These include:
- Specific gene variations affecting opioid receptors and other nervous system functions
- A history of substance abuse or psychiatric conditions, such as depression
- Experiences of childhood neglect or abuse Personality traits like impulsivity and sensation-seeking
- Peers who abuse opioids or other substances
- Easy access to opioids
- Low socioeconomic status
- Living in a rural area
- Family members with history of addiction
Rates of Opioid Addiction in the U.S.
Based on the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, here’s how opioid addiction affected people aged 12 or older in the past year:
- 3.1% of adults 12 and older misused opioids. Percentage of use was higher among adults 18 and older.
- 92.6% misused prescription opioid medications only, 3.6% of opioid misusers took heroin only, 3.8% misused heroin and prescription pain relievers.
- 1.7% Asian and 5.9% American Indian or Alaska Native people misused opioids
- 0.3% misused fentanyl.
- 2.0 percent had an opioid use disorder in the past year, with a higher percentage seen in adults 18 and older.
What Are the Warning Signs of Opioid Addiction?
Opioid addiction develops gradually, with warning signs and symptoms that may indicate your loved one is struggling. Here are some signs to look for.
Physical signs:
- Pinpoint pupils
- Slowed breathing
- Drowsiness
- Changes in sleep and eating habits
- Weight loss or gain
- Frequent flu-like symptoms, including vomiting, sweating, and shaky hands
- Hiding arms to conceal injection sites
- Decreased sex drive
- Poor hygiene
Behavioral signs:
- Changes in exercise habits
- Declining performance in school or work
- Social isolation
- Shifts in personality and friend group
- Moodiness and irritability
- Stealing
You may also notice burnt bottle caps or spoons, syringes, powder residue, removed or missing shoelaces and belts (used for drug injection), and missing medications.
List of Common Opioids that Cause Addiction
There are a number of different opioids. Note that nearly all types of opioids can cause addiction. Here are the common ones.
Synthetic (aka designer drugs):
- Nitazene or “ISO”
- W-15
- W-18
- AH-7921
- U-47700 or “Pink”
- Carfentanil
Illicit drugs:
- Heroin
- Opium
- Illicit (non-prescription) fentanyl
Prescription opioid drugs:
- Oxycodone
- Prescription fentanyl
- Hydrocodone
- Codeine
- Demerol
- Oxymorphone
- Methadone
- Morphine
- Buprenorphine
- Tramadol
Complications of Untreated Opioid Addiction
Not getting treatment for opioid addiction can lead to a range of complications, such as:
- Heart problems, including stroke, irregular heartbeat, and sudden death
- Stomach issues, like constipation, ulcers, and heartburn
- HIV, hepatitis B and C, and other blood-borne viruses
- Sepsis
- Nutritional deficiency
- Increased sensitivity to pain
- Lung problems like pneumonia and tuberculosis
- Suicide
- Overdose and overdose deaths
- Financial difficulties
- Unemployment
- Criminal offense
At Harmony Treatment and Wellness, we don’t just treat your addiction. We work to help you heal from the effects of opioids, from the physical effects to the strain on your life and relationships.
Opioid Addiction Treatment Options in Stuart, Florida
Opioid use can take a devastating toll on health, impact relationships, and lead to serious long-term health consequences.
But there is hope. Effective, compassionate treatment can help you break free from addiction and reclaim your life.
Harmony Treatment and Wellness provides a range of specialized programs to support you every step of the way toward recovery.
Harmony Treatment and Wellness offers an outpatient medical detox program to help clear your body of opioids. Our dedicated team of medical and mental health care providers are here to ensure comfort as you go through the most challenging stage of withdrawal.
This is the first step in the recovery process, helping prepare you for further treatment and supporting a smoother transition into other recovery programs. This begins with a medical and psychiatric assessment, so we know how to best help you.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) combines U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medications with therapy to ease cravings and withdrawal symptoms. This process lowers the risk of relapse during and after treatment, so you can fully focus on recovery.
At Harmony Treatment and Wellness, we prescribe naltrexone, Suboxone, and Vivitrol following detox, administered by qualified staff who monitor your progress and medication levels closely.
Over time, they’ll gradually taper your dosage, ensuring a comfortable transition off medication. We also provide several weeks of aftercare to support your lasting recovery and sobriety, offering continued guidance and encouragement for your journey.
Harmony Wellness and Treatment offers partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs (IOP), and standard outpatient programs (OP) to support individuals at various recovery stages.
We typically offer our intensive outpatient program after our residential treatment program. This program is created for those ready to participate in a regular daily routine while continuously getting high-level professional support and care.
For people who need a bit more support, our partial hospitalization program can offer the intensity of residential treatment without the need to stay at the facility overnight.
The standard outpatient program is a flexible option for those further in recovery, focusing on weekly therapy and relapse prevention. Participating in an outpatient program provides continued treatment and counseling, ensuring long-term recovery.
We take a holistic approach to opioid addiction treatment, offering a range of therapies that blend evidence-based and alternative methods.
Key therapies include individual, group, and family sessions, along with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to manage negative thoughts and trauma recovery therapy, which addresses the underlying causes of addiction.
Alternative therapies like art therapy, music therapy, yoga and meditation, and adventure therapy provide additional outlets for emotional expression and stress relief, supporting overall well-being.
Educational workshops further empower you, giving you insights and strategies to overcome challenges and strengthen your recovery journey.
Addressing mental health is crucial in overcoming opioid addiction, as over half of individuals with opioid addiction also struggle with co-occurring disorders such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
At Harmony Wellness and Treatment, we offer specialized mental health treatment as part of our comprehensive approach, including therapeutic techniques that tackle both mental health and addiction issues.
With targeted therapy and supportive counseling, our clients can better manage their mental health symptoms, supporting a healthier, more stable foundation for lasting recovery.
Now is the perfect time to begin to heal!
Find Opioid Treatment at Harmony Treatment and Wellness
You may feel that overcoming opioid addiction is impossible, but many who once felt the same are now living free from its harmful effects on health, relationships, and daily life. Opioid addiction doesn’t have to define your future.
Harmony Treatment and Wellness offers compassionate, effective treatment options to help you reclaim your life.
Don’t hesitate to contact us today. At Harmony Treatment and Wellness, we’re here to support you every step of the way on your recovery journey.
Most Insurance Accepted
We work with most major insurance carriers and offer a range of options to fit your lifestyle and financial means
Opioid Addiction FAQs
Opioid misuse — such as through repeated, prolonged, or non-medical use of prescription opioids — is the most common cause of opioid addiction. However, factors like genetics, past substance use history, and environment may make you more vulnerable to developing addiction.
Mixing opioids with substances that slow brain activity (depressants) like alcohol and benzodiazepines can heighten the effects of the drug and counter its side effects. However, this can potentially lead to opioid overdose, damaged organs, and death.
Over half (64%) of those using opioids have a mental illness. Meanwhile, 11 to 26% have alcohol or another substance use disorder. Using opioids may make it harder for you to feel pleasure over time. It can also increase your suicide risk.
Sources
- American Psychiatric Association. “Opioid Use Disorder”. Retrieved from: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/opioid-use-disorderAccessed on October 29, 2024.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Preventing Opioid Use Disorder”. Retrieved from:https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/prevention/preventing-opioid-use-disorder.html. Accessed on October 29, 2024.
- Health Resources and Services Administration. “Opioid Crisis”. Retrieved from: https://www.hrsa.gov/opioids. Accessed on October 29, 2024.
- Mayo Clinic. “How opioid use disorder occurs”. Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/in-depth/how-opioid-addiction-occurs/art-20360372. Accessed on October 29, 2024.
- Medline Plus. “Opioid addiction”. Retrieved from: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/opioid-addiction/. Accessed on October 29, 2024.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Opioids”. Retrieved from: https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/opioids. Accessed on October 29, 2024.
- National Institutes of Health. “Optimizing Care for People with Opioid Use Disorder and Mental Health Conditions”. Retrieved from: https://heal.nih.gov/research/new-strategies/optimizing-care. Accessed on October 29, 2024.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health”. Retrieved from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt47095/National%20Report/National%20Report/2023-nsduh-annual-national.pdf Accessed on October 29, 2024.
- United States Drug Enforcement Association. “New, Dangerous Synthetic Opioid in D.C., Emerging in Tri-State Area”. Retrieved from: https://www.dea.gov/stories/2022/2022-06/2022-06-01/new-dangerous-synthetic-opioid-dc-emerging-tri-state-area. Accessed on October 29, 2024.
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A Life in Recovery Can be Yours.
You deserve to become your best self. With decades of combined experience in the field of addiction medicine, our staff knows what it takes to build a foundation for recovery.