Opioid addiction is a serious issue that many people don't fully understand. Opioids are pain-relieving drugs that can be prescribed by doctors or obtained illegally on the street. These drugs have helped millions of people manage their chronic pain, but they also come with a risk of addiction and overdose. In this blog post, we will discuss opioid addiction in-depth and give you some helpful insight into considering and managing the risks associated with opioids. ANR Clinic can help you beat opioid dependency.

Opioid addiction and misuse often starts with a doctor's prescription

Many people who develop a dependency on opioids are prescribed them after surgery or an injury. Even when taken exactly as directed, opioids are one of the most addictive drugs that doctors prescribe to their patients. Opioids affect our brains in a variety of different ways and increase dopamine levels while decreasing pain threshold levels. This can lead people to feel alleviated from chronic pain for longer than is safe, and when the drug is stopped, withdrawal symptoms can occur.

The risk for overdose is much higher when buying street drugs

When painkillers are purchased illegally, the risk for overdose increases. The strength of a drug can vary depending on where it is purchased and who supplies it, so there's no way to know what you're actually getting when purchasing drugs from an unknown source. Many street opioids are cut with other substances like fentanyl that are fatal in small doses that are not measured out accurately by the drug dealer who is pressing them.

Opioids are extremely dangerous when mixed with other drugs

A common risk that those who use opioids run is compromising their safety by using them with other substances. Many people think that taking opioids and drinking alcohol or using other drugs is safe because the effects of each drug will simply "complement" or "cancel out" one another. What is really happening inside your body is more like a tug-of-war match.

For example, when you mix these types of drugs with cocaine, you may feel a canceling effect, but what is really happening is your bodily processes are being slowed and producing less oxygen (because of the opiates) right at the moment they need more oxygen (because of the cocaine).

This can lead to a much higher risk for overdose than any single opioid could cause on its own, as well as increased negative side effects such as respiratory depression.

Opioid addiction doesn't happen overnight

The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that the process of developing an addiction to opioids can actually start within just days or weeks of using them. However, because each person's physiology is different, it may take months before opioid dependence sets in for some people and years for others.

What this means is that while studies show how quickly one becomes addicted to opioids on average, it is impossible for us to predict exactly when opioid addiction will set in in individual cases.

Opioid abuse is a disorder

Like all substance abuse cases, opioid addiction is a disorder that must be treated with medical intervention to overcome. It is a mental disorder because it rewires your brain and behavior. It leads to an inability to control someone's use of the substances despite the harm it does to their body and mind.

The risk of opioid addiction should be weighed against the benefits

If you have developed an opioid habit, it's important to understand the risks and dangers of continuing your behavior before getting help so that you can make informed decisions about how much harm you are willing to put yourself in as a result of using opioids.

While many opioids are prescribed by doctors and have successfully helped patients alleviate chronic or temporary pain, this is the precise way that many have fallen victim to opioid addiction. Opioid addiction can happen to anyone. If you or someone close to you is struggling with opioid abuse, please seek help immediately. There are many resources available for those who want to get sober and live a life free of the grip of these powerful drugs.