Signs and symptoms of opiate addiction can be subtle or obvious. Depending on how far a person’s addiction has progressed, they may be exhibiting most of the warning signs. However, everyone’s experience with addiction is different since everyone’s life circumstances are different. If you are concerned that you or someone you love might be addicted to opiates, it can be helpful to learn more about the signs and symptoms of opiate use. Knowing what to look for in opiate addiction can also help you make informed choices about treatment for yourself or a loved one. Reach out to Liberty Health’s opiate addiction detox center to learn more.
What Is Opiate Addiction? Is It the Same as Opioid Addiction?
Addiction is a complex disease. Part of addiction is the psychological condition in which a person develops a habit of using a substance. In some cases, the addiction is also physical, meaning that the person’s body has changed to accommodate the constant presence of the drug. Opiate addiction is both psychological and physical.
Opiates are drugs derived from processing parts of the opium poppy. They are also opioids, a broader term covering both natural opiates and synthetic compounds made in labs to be chemically similar to the natural compounds.
Opioids of all kinds are highly addictive. They take advantage of the body’s natural pain-relieving and reward mechanisms. This makes them effective at relieving severe pain, which is why doctors often prescribe them, but it also makes them carry a high risk for abuse and addiction.
What Are the Top 5 Signs of Opiate Addiction?
If you are concerned that you or a loved one might be showing symptoms of opiate abuse or addiction, you might be wondering how to tell for sure that there is a problem. The simplest way to know is to look for the following five signs:
- Lying about whereabouts or activities
- Asking to borrow money or stealing from others
- Continuing to use the drug despite it causing major problems in life
- Visiting multiple doctors to try and get pain prescriptions (aka ‘doctor shopping’)
- Trying to cut back or stop using the drug but not being able to do so
These are some of the most common signs that someone is abusing or addicted. Learning to recognize these signs, especially if one or more is present, is the first step in getting the necessary support to heal and overcome dependency.
What To Do If You Or a Loved One Needs Help With Opiate Addiction
If you or someone you care about exhibits signs of opiate addiction, the best thing to do is to seek treatment at an opiate addiction detox center. Studies show that people who participate in a treatment program for substance abuse are the most likely to maintain a lasting recovery, return to work or school, and rejoin hobbies and family activities. At an opiate addiction treatment program, clients are evaluated by a care team that includes both medical and therapeutic staff.
An individualized treatment plan that is designed to meet the client’s specific needs is developed. Many people need to undergo some period of detox or withdrawal to be offered medically-supervised detox, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), or some combination of the two. Clients also participate in therapy and other wellness activities to help them address the root causes of addiction in their life and heal from traumas that may be feeding their addiction.
Liberty Health Services Can Help With Opiate Addiction
We at Liberty Health Services pride ourselves on our commitment to our clients and their families. At our luxury treatment center in Derry, New Hampshire, we offer proven treatments and therapies based on best clinical practices so that our clients can achieve lasting recovery. Reach out to our caring and knowledgeable staff today at 855.959.4521 and let us tell you how we can help.
