Learn to Recognize the Signs of Opioid Abuse and Addiction
Have you or a loved one sustained a painful injury? Perhaps you just went through surgery and you are struggling to manage the discomfort? If you fall into one of these categories, it’s not uncommon for a doctor to prescribe some form of opioids to help you manage the pain. What many people don’t realize, however, is that opiates are highly addictive. It’s important to remember that signs of opioid addiction can manifest themselves in both a physical and psychological form. In most cases, a person that is addicted to opioids will display a combination of signs.
Physical Signs of Opioid Addiction
There are several tell-tale signs that you may see if you suspect that a family member may be struggling with opioid addiction, such as:
- Small pupils
- Slowed breathing
- Sedation or extreme lack of energy
While some of these symptoms may not be overtly obvious all of the time, these few examples of physical signs as well as the emotional symptoms of opioid addiction may give you a better idea of whether a dependency on this drug is present.
Mental and Emotional Signs of Opioid Addiction
While the physical signs of opioid addiction may be noticeable to a friend or a loved one, the mental and emotional cues can be just as clear. Some examples include:
Avoidance of social situations
If you find that you or a friend has gone from being a social butterfly to doing everything to avoid any social interaction, this could be a sign of potential trouble. The anti-social activity usually stems from trying to hide the addiction since the person suffering from addiction to opioids either does not want to give up their addiction yet or does not want to feel as though they need to be lectured by friends or family members.
Doctor shopping
It’s not uncommon for a person with an addiction to opiates to do everything they can to obtain this drug. If a doctor begins to suspect that their patient is exhibiting addictive qualities, they may discontinue the prescription. In turn, that may trigger a person to make excuses to try to see another doctor or multiple doctors at the same time to continue to feed their addiction.
Financial problems
Feeding an addiction does not come cheap and can slowly but surely cause serious financial issues for the person grappling with it. The craving for opioids can be so intense that it may drive a person to wipe away their entire life savings just to be able to maintain it.
Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms
Once you have decided to overcome your addiction, you will need to first go through the withdrawal process before you can genuinely commit yourself to a treatment plan. Within a few hours of the time that you stop taking your opioid of choice, withdrawal symptoms will set in. Withdrawal symptoms can be hazardous since they are so unpredictable. In many cases, typical examples of withdrawal symptoms include:
- Leg cramps
- Sweating
- Vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- Extreme cravings
Since it’s impossible to know the severity of your withdrawal symptoms, it’s never advisable that you attempt to go through the process alone. When you come to Muse Treatment, we can assist you in enrolling in our detox program so you can withdraw from opiates in a safe and protected environment under the watchful eye of our trained medical professionals.
Opioid Addiction Treatment at Muse
When you turn to the Muse Treatment team for help in overcoming your opioid addiction, you can rest assured that you are in excellent hands. We go above and beyond to learn more about you, the development of your addiction, and your goals so we can help you put together a treatment plan that will help you achieve life-long sobriety. Please reach out to us today at (800) 426-1818.
