Opioids addiction

Opioids addiction

Thesis statement: Opioids addiction has adverse health effects especially when used for non-medical purposes. Addressing the issue may be possible by seeking medical treatment and behavioral changes.

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Opioid addiction refers to a chronic/long-lasting disease which may lead to major health, social as well as economic problems or concerns. Opioids refer to a class of drugs which act on the nervous system to produce a feeling(s), of pain relief or even pleasure. However, some of the opioids drugs might be legally prescribed by the providers of healthcare to manage some chronic or severe pains. The most commonly prescribed opioids for managing chronic pains include fentanyl, buprenorphine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. Others include methadone, oxymorphone, morphine, and codeine. However, other opioids drugs are illegal drugs of abuse. The heroine is an example of such an opioid drug. The opioid drugs addiction might lead to life-threatening health concerns like the risks of overdose. The risks of overdose take place whenever high opioid doses cause breathing to stop or slow down. The occurrence leads to unconsciousness and there is a possibility for death occurrence in case the healthcare providers fail to treat it immediately. Both the legal and illegal opioids have a risk and likelihood of leading to addiction. It occurs if an individual takes a lot of the drug or if the drugs are combined with the other drugs specifically tranquilizers known as benzodiazepines.

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The opioids change the brain’s chemistry and lead to drug tolerance. The implication is that over the period, the dosage needs to be increased from time to time to attain a similar effect. Prolonged dependence on opioids leads to drug dependence. It does so to an extent that whenever a person stops using the substance, there are psychological and physical symptoms of withdrawal. Such symptoms include diarrhea, muscle cramping, and even anxiety. Additionally, opioid addiction is a complex disorder. Non-Generic factors play a critical role in the occurrence of opioid addiction. For instance, the factors that have been seen to increase the likelihood of addiction include the history of drug abuse and dependence. The other factors include childhood neglect, depression or even other psychiatric disorders as well as certain personality traits like sensation-seeking or impulsivity. Living in rural areas or in poverty and associating with the others that abuse the drugs might also lead to this addiction. Also, having easy access to illegal opioids or prescriptions contributes to the risks of this addiction. There is also a likelihood that a combination of social, health, economic and lifestyle factors might interact with the genetic factors of a person to determine the risks of an individual.

Reed B, Butelman ER, Yuferov V, Randesi M, Kreek MJ. Genetics of opiate addiction. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2014 Nov; 16(11):504. Internet source.

The major characteristic of opioid addiction includes a powerful and compulsive urge to using the drugs even when they are not required medically any longer. Due to prolonged utilization of the drug, an individual might find it hard to perform certain activities without being under the influence of the substance. It is also notable that there will be a change in the behavior of the person who is addicted to such drugs. The person has a likelihood of only associating with the other abusers while at the same time neglecting or avoiding those that do not depend on the substance. The reason is that the individual might feel excluded whenever he is with the non-abusers. On the other hand, the individual will feel very much comfortable while with fellow users.

Levran O, Yuferov V, Kreek MJ. The genetics of the opioid system and specific drug addictions. Hum Genet. 2012 Jun; 131(6):823-42.

Additionally, at higher levels of opioids addiction, the major characteristics include the feeling of consciousness and the inability to breath. The person will appear normal and active when under drugs but will appear abnormal when not under the influence of such drugs. It is at this moment that the individual might become abnormal and may face breathing difficulties. During this moment, there is a high need for the addict to seek medical attention. The reason is that the failure to look for medical attention might lead to the immediate death of the victim. Therefore, opioids addiction has specific characteristics that healthcare providers have to examine and offer adequate medication. In extreme levels, the situation might become irreversible and the addict might depend on the drugs forever.

Mistry CJ, Bawor M, Desai D, Marsh DC, Samaan Z. Genetics of Opioid Dependence: A Review of the Genetic Contribution to Opioid Dependence. Curr Psychiatry Rev. 2014 May; 10(2):156-167. 

The major treatment for opioid addiction involves medication-assisted treatment. The activity involves administering drugs to reverse the situation, counseling and receiving support from the family members and friends. Medical-assisted treatment might help a person to cease from using the drug and getting away from them during the withdrawal method. The withdrawal method is regarded as neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). The opioid abuse might at times lead to the abuse of other drugs. The reason is that some people might use from using it and switch to abuse another type of drug. Moreover, behavior practices are the other appropriate treatment for this kind of addiction. The practice involves reducing the amount of drug consumed slowly and by a reduced portion of the drug. Continued reduction of the drug will effectively help the person stop depending on the drug. The practice is highly effective. It is effective in the sense that a person will cease from depending on the opioids without experiencing the need for turning back to abuse the drug.