Opioids are a powerful pain-relieving medication. Often used to help those with severe pain, such as traumatic injuries or surgery recovery discomfort, opioids work very well to stop the central nervous system’s debilitating pain signals from impacting your quality of life. Used as prescribed for the shortest time possible, they can be very safe.
However, many people misuse opioids, whether on purpose or because of their prescription. When this happens, the risk of developing an opioid use disorder is very high, and the health effects can be devastating. At English Mountain, we offer a comprehensive addiction treatment program in Tennessee that can help you overcome these limitations and reclaim your health and well-being.
What Is Prescription Drug Misuse?
It’s a common misconception that prescription drugs are safe to use. They can be, when used as your doctor prescribes them. However, if you are engaging in any of the following, you are experiencing prescription drug misuse, which can be dangerous:
- Taking more than prescribed
- Taking the medication more often than prescribed
- Taking the medication long term, well beyond your prescription timeline
- Using a prescription not written for your use
- Taking the medication with substances like alcohol or other pain meds
- Taking the medication in any way other than prescribed, such as crushing it
Using too much opioid medication creates a serious impact on your health and well-being.
Data shared by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is worrisome. It shows that, from 1999 through 2023, 806,000 people lost their lives to opioid overdose. That includes both the use of prescription and illicit forms of the drug. While opioid deaths have dropped in percentage since then, there are still thousands of people who die each year from the use of opioids needlessly.
Why Are Opioids Dangerous?
Opioids are dangerous for several reasons. They are highly addictive, meaning they change the structure and function of the brain in such a way that it becomes dependent on access to the substance to operate. In addition, opioids cause a depression of the function of the central nervous system, which means that it slows down your heart and breathing rate, leading to the risk of overdose.
This happens because of the way opioids work. Opioids bind to and then activate the opioid receptors on the brain’s cells as well as other areas of the body. When this happens, it impacts your sense of pain and pleasure. Opioids block the pain signals from reaching your brain while also stimulating the release of dopamine, a hormone that makes you feel good.
Because of this, your brain sees the drug’s presence as a good thing and begins seeking it out. Over time, this reinforces the use of the substance so much so that it becomes impossible to ignore. You want to keep using the substance. As your brain gains access, it becomes used to the amount used, developing a tolerance for it. That then leads to the need to use more of the substance.
What Is the Difference in Tolerance, Dependence, and Addiction to Opioids
These three phrases are often used alongside opioid addiction. Consider what they mean:
- Tolerance: This term refers to the brain and body’s ability to develop a tolerance for the substance. That means it gets used to the substance. To get the same high, you will need a bigger dose or to use the substance more often. The more you use it, the higher the risk of overdose becomes.
- Dependence: Dependence happens over time with consistent use. It occurs when the neurons within your brain adapt in such a way that they only function normally when the drug is present. When the drug is not present, you feel numerous reactions, including cravings. In some situations, such as the use of heroin, life-threatening complications can occur.
- Addiction: Addiction forms when a person compulsively and uncontrollably seeks out opioids. At this point, a person recognizes that there are harmful consequences to continued use and continues to seek them out. These results, in some situations, may lead to engaging in harmful behaviors.
What is happening to you? As you navigate opioid use, know that you can break free and not struggle with pain. Our opioid treatment programs can help you move beyond addiction and dependency.
Set Up a Conversation With Our Admissions Team
If you or someone you love is battling opioid addiction or dependency, or you are concerned they may, reach out to English Mountain Recovery for immediate help. Our team is ready to provide you with ongoing support to start the healing process. Contact us now for immediate help.
