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Opioid Addiction: A Growing Concern
Opioid addiction is something we all have heard about in high school, college, or from
various media sources. It gets talked about so much that it really could just be like any other
health topic. Unfortunately, the U.S. is in the middle of an intense opioid overdose crisis. These
drugs bring not only physical dependency but also psychological reliance. Both illicit drugs, like
heroin, and licit drugs, such as prescription pain medicines, contain opioids. They are powerful
and reach the brain through the bloodstream, thus disrupting the central nervous system in very
dangerous ways.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are pain-relieving medicines that are prescribed to patients. The problem therein
is that, over time, the medication becomes less effective, thus making the pain feel worse. When
this occurs, people become addicted, and it is challenging to stop taking the drugs. Opioids act
by attaching to particular receptors in the brain. They are usually absorbed into the body through
ingestion, where it passes into the bloodstream and to the brain and other organs. In some cases,
the drug is broken down by the liver, where it gets more potent as it courses through the body
(McAnally, 2018).
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Opioid Addiction and Dependence
Addiction starts when dependency interferes with life, be it school, work, or whatever activities.
Regrettably, opioid addiction is not the problem only within America but indeed worldwide.
According to McAnally, opioids are usually prescribed to manage pain; however, this continuous
use of drugs changes the chemistry of the brain. They may be building a tolerance against the
drug, which is leading them to continuously take an ever-increasing amount for the same effect.
Dependence is when the person cannot do without it and feels compelled to take the drug, while
addiction is when that need becomes beyond control and the individual begins to let that affect
daily life.
At first, opioids can make people feel good by triggering the brain's endorphins. However, after
this sensation has passed, the need to keep having this sensation creates dependence and thus
addiction (Mayo Clinic, 2022). Other symptoms of opioid addiction include sleeping much more
or much less than usual, loss of weight, uncontrollable urges for the drug, keeping to one's self,
and poor hygiene. These symptoms can manifest quite quickly in an individual with an addiction
problem (Butanis, 2018).
The Impact of Opioid Addiction
Opioid addiction causes manifold devastation at the level of the individual, the family, and
society in general. The dangers of opioid misuse are not confined to users of illegal drugs like
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heroin. Prescription opioids-considered by so many people to be much safer-have just as great a
potential for lethal consequences due to misuse. Whether taken in pill form or abused in other
ways-such as by crushing and injecting-these medications carry a high degree of danger.
Health Effects: The most perilous aspect of opioid use and addiction is overdose. When opioids
are used intravenously or snorted, the drug reaches the system much quicker compared to pills.
As a result of their rapid delivery, they become much stronger and prompt an overdose in which
breathing slows or can even stop completely, causing the person to die. These instances are pretty
frequent, and many people die every year in the United States due to opioid consumption.
The side effects are similarly extreme in the case of long-term health consequences. Long-term
health issues that could arise from opioid addiction include heart infections, the breakdown of
veins in the body-which is common with users who inject drugs through their veins-and liver
damage. In such cases, the mental health of users usually deteriorates, and quite a few opioid
addicts do have depressive feelings, anxiety, and suicidal tendencies.
Social and Economic Impact: Opioid addiction doesn't just harm the individual. It disrupts
families, causes job loss, and burdens the healthcare system. The addictive nature of opioids
makes them withdraw themselves from their loved ones, thereby causing damage to the
relationships. Some of the individuals who get addicted to drugs either lose their jobs due to their
inability to work properly or because their employers get to know about the addiction issue. All
this more often results in financial crises that might fuel the addiction cycle as people might go
towards illegal activities to keep their drug habits running.
The economic cost of opioid addiction is staggering, from health care costs-emergency
department visits, treatments, and rehabilitation-to the impacts on the criminal justice system.
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These are in addition to the increases in crime related to opioid addiction, which may manifest as
theft or dealing drugs to get more opioids.
Wider Ramifications: Opioid addiction is also a contributor to public health epidemics. Diseases
such as HIV and hepatitis C are more common in communities with more pervasive addiction to
these drugs. This is the case often due to needle sharing. Children of parents that are opioid-
addicted are at a greater risk for experiencing neglect. The growing incidence of overdose has
challenged the capacity of foster homes and social services.
Treatment for Opioid Addiction
Opioid addiction is hard to treat since the physical and mental states of the patient become
seriously hooked on the use of the substance. However, there are a few effective treatments
attempting to help people with the management of their addiction to have regained control of
their life. Medications alleviate withdrawal symptoms, while behavioral therapies address the
psychological properties of addiction.
Medication-Assisted Treatment: This is one of the strongest modes of putting addiction to rest
regarding opioids. In this mode of treatment, medication is combined with counseling and
therapy to decrease the craving of an individual for opioids and reduce withdrawal symptoms.
General medications include:
Methadone: A long-acting opioid that causes a decrease in craving without giving the sense of
high affected by opioids. It is taken once daily under the supervision of a medical professional
and helps avoid withdrawal symptoms.
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Buprenorphine acts upon some of the same brain receptors as opioids. This leads to reduced
craving but with less potential for abuse. This medication usually comes in combination with
naloxone. Under the brand name Suboxone, it aims not to be abused.
Naltrexone: Unlike methadone and buprenorphine, naltrexone completely blocks the opioid
receptors without producing any high whatsoever in case the patient uses opioids. It is very
useful after detoxification.
These medications stabilize the brain's chemistry so individuals can focus on recovery without
being overwhelmed by the intense physical and mental cravings of the addiction.
Innovative Treatments: Non-drug therapies are among the newer innovative treatments for
opioid addiction. "In 2017 the FDA cleared a device that provides electrical nerve stimulation to
reduce withdrawal symptoms.". Worn behind the ear for five days, it helps manage some of the
most difficult symptoms during the early stages of detox. In a field where it is still relatively new,
it has opened up the possibility of hope for those who have struggled with these intense
symptoms as they start their journey into recovery.
Long-term recovery: After initial treatment is finished, recovery from opioid addiction requires
long-term care and attention. Relapse is a common phenomenon; 80-93% of people experience
relapse within the first year, according to Kelly & Wakeman, 2019. Relapse prevention and
gaining long-term stability require continuous medication-assisted treatment combined with
therapy and support groups. A strong social supportive circle is very important: friends, family,
and health professionals.
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References
Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs (ASPA). (2021, April 19). HHS.gov/Opioids: The
prescription drug & heroin overdose epidemic. https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/
Butanis, B. (2018, August 27). Signs of opioid abuse. Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://
www.hopkinsmedicine.org/opioids/signs-of-opioid-abuse.html
Kelly, J. F., & Wakeman, S. E. (2019). Treating opioid addiction (Current Clinical
Psychiatry) (1st ed.). Springer.
McAnally, H. B. (2018). Opioid dependence: A clinical and epidemiological approach
(Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2018). Springer.
Mayo Clinic. (2022). How opioid addiction occurs. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-
conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/in-depth/how-opioid-addiction-occurs/art-20360372
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