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Opioids are a type of drug that acts similarly to natural substances that are found in the opium poppy. When taken, opioids act on the brain and produce feelings of happiness and contentment before making the user feel drowsy.
Prescription opioids are medications prescribed by doctors to treat pain. They are used for patients experiencing moderate-to-severe pain; however, if they are abused, prescription opioids can have serious side effects.
Heroin, which is an illegal drug, is also an opioid. Some people use opioids (prescription and illegal ones) because of the feelings of euphoria (the “high”) they produce. When abused, opioid drugs can lead to addiction or opioid use disorder. At that point, opioid addiction treatment is needed to help the affected person get their life back.
Heroin is a synthetic (artificial) opioid drug derived from morphine. It is a natural substance found in opium poppy seeds. The plant is grown in southeast and southwest Asia, Mexico, and Columbia.
The drug can be a brown or white powder. It can also be black and sticky in texture (“black tar heroin”). Users smoke, snort, or inject heroin. They may also mix it with crack cocaine (“speedballs”).
Heroin enters the brain very quickly and binds to opioid receptors on cells situated in several areas. These areas are related to those for feeling pain and pleasure, along with controlling the user’s respiration and heart rates.
How are Heroin, Fentanyl, and Prescription Opioids Related?
Heroin is an illegal opioid that doesn’t have any medicinal use. Fentanyl is used to treat severe pain. It is generally used for cancer pain. This medication is 50-100 times stronger than morphine and is prescribed in lozenges or patches that are placed on the skin. Unfortunately, fentanyl can be diverted for abuse by those for whom it was not prescribed.
Most recent cases of fentanyl overdose and death in the United States involve black-market products. It is sold illegally for its heroin-like properties. Fentanyl is often used with heroin or cocaine (many times without the user’s knowledge) to increase its euphoric properties.
It’s not uncommon for people who become addicted to prescription pain medication to turn to heroin when they can’t get prescription drugs. Heroin is usually cheaper than prescription painkillers.
Fentanyl may be mixed into heroin without the user’s knowledge. When this occurs, it increases the likelihood of causing an overdose or death, particularly among first-time users or those who haven’t taken heroin for some time.
Prescription and illegal opioids can cause euphoria (a feeling of intense excitement or happiness) in some users. Not everyone experiences a high when they take opioids, but those who may use the drug repeatedly because they want to repeat their initial experience.
Opioid medications, even prescription ones, are highly addictive. Long-term use or using them at high doses means that someone is at high risk for opioid use disorder (OUD) or an overdose. These drugs can even be fatal at a high enough dose.
The following facts about opioid addiction were provided by Johns Hopkins University:
Opioid addiction can be defined as a group of symptoms and behaviors that show someone is physically and psychologically dependent on the drug. They are as follows:
Opioid addiction is more than just physical dependence. Someone who is prescribed an opioid pain medication may go into withdrawal if they stop using their painkillers all at once. A patient in this category should contact their doctor to discuss tapering off the medication. It doesn’t mean they have an addiction. Opioid addiction includes a psychological component.
Opioid addicts have progressed to the point where accessing and using drugs is an essential part of their lives. They experience cravings for the drug, even when they know that continued use is harmful.
An opioid addict’s cravings and increasing tolerance (needing more of the drug to achieve the same high) may lead to them buying drugs on the street or going to more than one doctor to get prescription drugs (doctor shopping).
Risk factors for opioid addiction include:
Anabranch Recovery Center offers residential treatment for opioid addiction. The program duration varies, depending on each client’s needs, but generally ranges from 30-90 days.
We offer a medical detox program to help our clients manage their withdrawal symptoms. This is the first step in the treatment process. Our experienced staff ensures that clients are closely monitored and kept as comfortable as possible.
Once this step is complete, the client moves into the rehabilitation stage of their treatment. Our opioid treatment program is based on several evidence-based therapies, such as individual therapy sessions, group therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and family therapy.
Anabranch Recovery Center is one of several Indiana Methadone & Suboxone Clinics offering medication-assisted treatment to its clients. Methadone and suboxone don’t get opioid addicts high. MAT (Medication-assisted Treatment) means the client is given regular, controlled doses of medication for their cravings.
A residential program means that clients don’t have any distractions; they can focus their entire attention on their recovery. Trained professional clinical and nursing staff are available to provide round-the-clock support.
Following residential treatment, Anabranch offers intensive outpatient programming.
One of the crucial advantages of seeking care at an Opioid Addiction Treatment Centers in Indiana like Anabranch Recovery Center is that the person can step away from the daily pressures and habits that may be fueling their addiction.
Anabranch Recovery Center offers clients comfortable accommodations, nutritious food, and several activities to promote health and holistic well-being.
We can offer supportive, 24/7 care from a trained medical staff. Our clients receive individual and group therapy, as well as recovery education. We also cover relapse prevention to assist our clients with moving into long-term sobriety.
