Opioids

Opioids don’t have to control your life. Niznik Behavioral Health facilities are here to help, no matter where you are in your journey.

The Opioid Epedemic

Over a 10-year period, more than 750,000 Americans died from a drug overdose and two-thirds of those deaths were caused by opioids. Millions of people are dependent on these dangerous pain killers, taking a severe toll on our society. Heroin addiction impacts everyone close to the user. Opioid abuse costs the United States $78 billion a year, the CDC reports, driven by lost productivity, increased health care costs, addiction treatment costs, and criminal justice involvement. A report from the National Center for Health Statistics draws a bleak picture:

  • 10.3 million people misuse prescription opioids annually
  • 2 million people have an opioid disorder
  • 47,600 die each year from opioid overdose
  • 15,349 die from a heroin overdose
  • 32,656 die from synthetic opioid overdose

Opiate Addiction

Opioids are very addictive. It’s easy to become physically and psychologically dependent on opioids quickly. Opioids rapidly alter the brain chemistry of substance users. As a result, the body begins to physically and mentally crave prescription opioids.

Those who become addicted often resort to drastic behavior to get more opiates – going to see more than one doctor to get a new prescription, forging prescriptions, obtaining pills from friends or family members, or purchasing illegal opioids from drug dealers.

Because opioids are extremely addictive in nature, misuse of opioids quickly leads to dependence, and users may experience withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, insomnia, abdominal cramping or tremors when they stop using the drug for even a short time.

Over time, users develop a tolerance to opioids and they may begin to take larger doses more frequently to experience the same feelings. It is possible to overdose on opioids, which is often fatal.

Signs someone may be overdosing include unresponsiveness, no pulse, shallow breathing, vomiting, and constricted pupils.

Signs of Opioid Addiction

  • Mood swings 
  • Anxiety attacks 
  • Poor decision making 
  • Drowsiness 
  • Poor coordination 
  • Irritability 
  • Depression 
  • Slurred speech 
  • Neglecting responsibilities 

What Are Opioids and Opiates?

The terms opiates and opioids are often used interchangeably, but there is a significant difference. Opiates are natural opioids derived from the opium alkaloid compounds found in poppy plants, such as heroin. The term opioids refer to both natural and synthetic forms of the drug, including those manufactured in labs, such as fentanyl.

Fentanyl is one of the most popular synthetic opioids, and it can be especially dangerous because it is 100 times stronger than morphine. Drug dealers often add fentanyl to other drugs to make them stronger, and it is largely responsible for the rapid increase in opioid overdoses and deaths.

How Do Opioids Work?

Often prescribed by doctors to help manage pain after surgery or an accident, opioids work by binding to receptors in the brain and central nervous system to block the transmission of pain signals. In addition, opioids have an effect on the part of the brain that experiences pleasure, filling it with dopamine and creating feelings of euphoria and strong cravings. They may also have an effect on the digestive and respiratory systems.

Common Types of Opioids 

  • Heroin
  • Morphine
  • Codeine
  • OxyContin 
  • Hydrocodone
  • MethadoneHydromorphone
  • Meperidine 
  • Sufentanil 
  • Tramadol 
  • Carfentanil 
  • Paregoric 

How We Treat Opioid Addiction

Our national network of rehab centers, in Florida, California, Texas, and Colorado are fully accredited for the treatment of opioid addiction. We are equipped to provide a full continuum of care, assisting you through detox, progressing to a full rehab program with treatments and therapies that help you beat your addiction, and supplying aftercare programs that provide the support you need to sustain your hard-earned sobriety. We understand that overcoming an opioid addiction is a lifelong effort and we are fully prepared to help you every step of your recovery journey.

Many people are reluctant to enter substance abuse treatment because they fear the possibility of severe withdrawal symptoms. It’s not easy – the symptoms you experience when you quit opioids can be so intense that stopping becomes extremely difficult without assistance. But our medical team is fully equipped to get you through the detox process as safely and comfortably as possible, with around-the-clock care and medications that are approved to ease the pain of opioid detox. These medications work by helping to taper you off the drug at a controlled pace, making the intense symptoms and cravings much easier to handle.

Once your detox is complete, we begin the core portion of your personalized treatment program.  Using evidence-based, holistic therapies, we explore the root causes of your substance abuse. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, one of the most effective therapies for addiction treatment, helps you identify negative behaviors and replace them with healthy alternatives. You also learn various coping mechanisms and life skills that will help you avoid relapse in the future.

Finally, after your initial rehab program is complete, we offer aftercare services that provide you with ongoing support and guidance. Through additional therapy, counseling, and peer support, we help you stay on the road to recovery and protect the drug-free life that you worked so hard to achieve.

Call Niznik Behavioral Health today and get help for your opioid addiction!

Our Full Continuum of Care

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(888) 699-1409

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