All About Opiate Addiction

Derived from the opium plant, opiates are drugs that include morphine, codeine, and heroine. Opiates are used medically to relieve pain but they can be abused for the euphoric sensation people receive when taking them. For this reason people who use opiates regularly can become both psychologically and physically addicted to them.

Opiates can cause multiple side effects whether they are taken for pain relieve or used for recreation. The side effects include muscle spasms, pin point pupils, low blood pressure, gastrointestinal spasms, drowsiness, disorientation, respiratory depression, and even death. Ceasing to use opiates once addition occurs will result in symptoms of withdrawal. Because withdrawal symptoms can be life threatening patients attempting to overcome their addiction should be in a supervised treatment program.

Opiate over dosage is common as opiate addicted persons require more and more of the substance to achieve their desired result. When an overdose occurs the major life threatening symptom is respiratory collapse. For this reason it is important to maintain a good airway and administer oxygen. The opiate effects can be reversed with Naloxone, a drug that reverses the respiratory depressive effects of opiates.

Opiate addiction is a serious problem. It wrecks lives and kills people but the opiate addict can recover. Effective treatment for opiate addiction depends on a willing subject who is supported physically, emotionally and physically in the quest for drug free health.

Early withdrawal symptoms include irritability, anxiety, muscle aches, sweating, frequent yawning, and insomnia. Later symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Treatment involves supportive care along with medications to reduce the anxiety.

At times a prolonged methadone withdrawal program is the best option to reduce withdrawal symptoms. Methadone, a long acting opiate that causes very little euphoria, is used to stabilize the patient and then the dosage is decreased slowly over time.

There are many types of treatment programs. The one that will be the most effective is the one that the person addicted to opiates is the one in which the addicted person is willing to participate. Programs and treatment strategies vary from residential programs where the addict lives to half way houses to outpatient and even maintenance programs.

The most important aspect of a treatment program is how well the program is able to engage the client and keep the client engaged. Most people with an opiate addiction will relapse at least once. It is important they feel comfortable returning. It is equally important that those directing the program have many treatment approaches and are able to try something new following a relapse.