Opiate Addiction & Treatment

Opiate Addiction

Opiate addiction is often overlooked by friends and family members because the addict isn’t using an illegal substance. Because opiates have medical uses and are obtained by prescription, many people will believe that Opiate addiction is not a problem. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 11.2 million Americans took Opiates without medical reason in 2003.

About Opiates

Opiate drugs are a group of narcotic painkillers that include heroin, morphine, opium, codeine, and OxyContin, Dilaudid, and Morphine. They are derived from the poppy plant. Prescription opiates usually come in pill form, while heroin comes as a white or brownish powder. Opiate users will always feel a rush of euphoria that lasts a few hours after taking Opiates.

Side effects of Opiate use include restlessness, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and even death. Withdrawal symptoms can also lead to these same side effects, with progressively worse withdrawal based on how long and how much of the drug has been abused. Click here to see more about what can happen with opiate or opioid withdrawal is handled improperly without appropriate medical supervision.

Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms

Symptoms of Opiate withdrawal include agitation, anxiety, muscle aches, insomnia, sweating, cramps, diarrhea, dilated pupils, goose bumps, nausea, and vomiting. These symptoms are usually uncomfortable but not life threatening. Withdrawal symptoms can start 12 hours after the last dose.

 

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