Opioid Addiction

Opioid addiction is the intense, compulsive urge to use opioid drugs even when someone no longer needs them to be prescribed. 

As the use of opioids has soared, researchers have developed medication-assisted treatments to address opioid use disorder (OUD). These medications can help combat the cravings and intense withdrawal symptoms of the health condition. 

At Summit at Harmony Oaks, we take our role in helping people through the recovery process seriously. Our medical staff will be with you from detox, the beginning of the process, through outpatient treatment. 

To learn more about how Summit at Harmony Oaks can help you end your dependence on opioids, call us today.

What to Know About Opioid Addiction

Opioids are prescription medications that are used in pain management for severe and chronic pain. Opioids work on a cellular level that can be very addictive.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a very serious medical condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), anyone who takes prescription opioids is at risk of addiction. These prescriptions can include:

  • Codeine
  • Fentanyl
  • Hydrocodone
  • Methadone
  • Oxycodone

An addiction to opioids is diagnosed by showing a pattern of repeated behaviors, including:

  • Attempting and failing to control how much is used
  • Being unable to complete your tasks at school or work
  • Being unable to take care of yourself, such as showering 

Summit at Harmony Oaks works to help people restore their mental well-being, take back control of their life, and heal from opioid addiction.

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Common Causes of Opioid Addiction

Opioids activate the release of endorphins in the body, which can cause drowsiness and make the body relax. Opioids and benzodiazepines are addictive because of the sense of well-being they create.

These feelings may only last a short while after taking a dose of the medication. It can be hard to achieve these feelings again, and people may take more and more to try to achieve it. This is the greatest risk factor for developing a substance use disorder, also known as an addiction.

Once an addiction to opioids form, breaking the addiction without help is difficult to nearly impossible.

As of 2023, there were more than 81,000 opioid overdose deaths in America because of how easy it is to get these medications. Prescription pain relievers are given for many different reasons, from pain relief for minor injuries to more severe pain from surgeries.

Many people fall victim to opioid addiction after taking prescription opioids and forming a dependence or addiction to them.

Who Is at Risk of Opioid Addiction?

Knowing the risk factors for opioid addiction can help people avoid opioid misuse.

The following are the biggest risks for developing an addiction to opioids:

  • A history of misusing or abusing alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications
  • Having an untreated mental health condition
  • Being an adolescent or young adult
  • Being in an environment that encourages abusing substances like drugs and alcohol

At Summit at Harmony Oaks, we know that the best way to treat opioid abuse is by understanding why it may have occurred in the first place.

Signs & Symptoms of Opioid Addiction

When someone has been misusing opioids, they may be able to keep it hidden for a little while, but eventually, they will begin to show signs. Knowing what these symptoms are is the first step in opioid overdose prevention.

Taking an opioid medication for a long time will eventually cause the body to create fewer endorphins on its own. This leads to a person needing a higher dose in order to get the same feeling. This process is called building tolerance and is a sign of physical dependence.

Once physical dependence starts, it is a lot more likely that a person will have physical side effects of quitting the substance, known as withdrawal symptoms. Specialized opioid treatment will help with these symptoms and make withdrawal a little easier to endure.

Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms

The following are common opioid withdrawal symptoms:

  • Taking more of an opioid than you were prescribed
  • Taking pain medication longer than you are supposed to
  • Wanting to be able to quit taking it but not being able to stop on your own
  • Spending a lot of time trying to get more
  • Needing to spend a lot of time recovering from taking an opioid
  • Having cravings for opioids
  • Being unable to complete your work or school duties
  • Continuing to take opioids even after doing so causes social problems
  • Stopping activities that you loved 
  • Taking opioids while driving or other tasks

Most Insurance Accepted

As a member of the Harmony Health Group family of treatment programs, we are able to work with many private insurance plans.

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Effects of Opioid Addiction

Opioid drug use can cause your body to become physically dependent in only four to six weeks. This is a very short period of time, which makes opioids extremely addictive. Physical dependence means that your body will have a hard time working without it.

Short-term effects of taking opioids include:

  • Dizziness
  • Sleepiness
  • Confusion
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Dry mouth
  • Itchy skin
  • Sweating

Family members and close friends will likely notice these symptoms if they are around the person often enough.

There are equally harmful long-term effects that happen after taking opioids for a while. Long-term complications of opioid abuse include:

  • Chronic constipation
  • Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB)
  • Increased risk of bone fractures
  • Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysregulation, a stress response

There is also an increased risk of overdose the longer opioids are abused.

Opioid Addiction Treatment at Summit at Harmony Oaks

Summit at Harmony Oaks proudly uses all of the best treatment tools available to us in order to help you succeed in opioid recovery.

Anyone who comes to us in need of help will first go through a medical detox to flush out the substance. Then, depending on the severity of their substance abuse, they have the option of attending an inpatient program or an outpatient program.

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All of our addiction treatment programs use mental health services such as psychiatry and counseling, as well as medication-assisted treatment, to help in the recovery process. 

The following are the detailed programs we offer at Summit at Harmony Oaks.

Opioid Detox

Not only can opioid withdrawal be extremely uncomfortable, it can also create medical complications in some. Depending on which opioids were taken and if they were taken at the same time as other drugs, the detox period can be anywhere from a few days to weeks.

During opioid detox at Summit at Harmony Oaks, you will be supervised by medical practitioners. 

They will closely monitor your medical condition by taking vitals like your blood pressure and heart rate. This allows us to ensure your safety and comfort during the process and avoid any potentially harmful effects.

Medication Assisted Treatment

One of the most successful methods of helping people through opioid withdrawal and recovery is by using a variety of medications. Summit at Harmony Oaks offers a variety of medications to meet your unique recovery needs.

Medications known to treat opioid use disorder include:

  • Buprenorphine
  • Methadone
  • Naltrexone
  • Suboxone

Our licensed health care professionals will prescribe and administer the medication and dosage that’s right for you. In the event of a potential overdose, they will use naloxone to reverse the effects of an overdose rapidly.

Residential Treatment

Residential treatment, also known as inpatient treatment, is a highly structured and scheduled program. It provides a safe space for people who have successfully completed a detox program to continue on their road to recovery.

Everyone enrolled in our residential treatment program will be required to attend daily therapy sessions. These different types of counseling can be with a group or one-on-one. Many people in our program require medication assistance, and we are happy to help.

Outpatient Treatment

Outpatient treatment programs are also a very effective way of helping people achieve lasting sobriety. 

Our outpatient treatment involves a step-down method where each care level offers a less-intensive therapy. These levels of outpatient treatment include:

Outpatient programs are great for people who need a more flexible treatment option. Even those who need to go to school or work can receive the help they need by attending an outpatient program.

Mental Health Treatment

One of the reasons people turn to drugs, alcohol, and opioids is to self-medicate. Many mental health disorders often go hand-in-hand with addiction, called co-occurring disorders. In order to effectively treat a person’s addiction, we need to treat the root of their problems.

At Summit at Harmony Oaks, we use a variety of therapy methods to help people with their mental health recovery. These therapies include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), adventure therapy, trauma therapy, music therapy, family and group therapy, and mindfulness meditation.

Manage Opioid Addiction at Summit at Harmony Oaks

Contact Us

If you or a loved one has been living with an opioid use disorder, you are not alone in your struggle. Many people have faced the same challenges and reached sobriety thanks to the Summit at Harmony Oaks programs.

If you are ready to take the first step toward ending the addiction cycle, we are ready to help you start. Contact our admission specialists today with any questions about opioid addiction, how it can be treated and managed, and what to expect when you arrive.

Call us today. Help will be waiting for you when you are ready.

Opioid Addiction FAQs

What is the definition of opioid addiction?

Opioid use disorder is regular use or misuse of opioids that causes substantial distress or impairment.

How do opioid addicts behave?

People who are addicted to opioids often have a noticeable change in behavior and attitude. They also tend to become irritable, anxious, moody, and isolate themselves from friends and family.

How can opioids affect your mental health?

Opioids can cause more than physical problems for those who become addicted. OUD can lead to depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and psychological distress. Substance use disorder is also considered a mental health disorder.

What do opioids do to you?

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), opioids move through the bloodstream and attach to opioid receptors in the brain. This causes the receptors to block feelings of pain and increase feelings of pleasure.

Sources

  1. Centers for Disease Control. “Preventing Opioid Use Disorder.” Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/prevention/preventing-opioid-use-disorder.html Accessed on October 29, 2024.
  2. National Institutes of Health. “Risk Factors for Opioid Use Disorder.” Retrieved from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29049118/. Accessed on October 29, 2024.
  3. American Psychiatry Association. “Opioid Use Disorder.” Retrieved from: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/opioid-use-disorder. Accessed on October 29, 2024.

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