What are the symptoms of opioid use disorder syndrome? Drug use is only the beginning, and there are treatment options that can help.
Opioid use disorder syndrome is a serious health condition that affects millions of people around the globe. It’s typified by a pattern of compulsive opioid use, even when the user is aware of the negative consequences, which might include physical and mental health problems, social and financial difficulties, and legal issues.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are a type of chemical that reduces the body/brain’s perception of pain. Opioids are not the same as opiates, which is why seeking opioid addiction treatment in Michigan means finding a specialty provider. Opioids cause a host of side effects, including reduced pain, confusion, and euphoria, but they can also cause nausea, constipation, and even death.
What Are the Symptoms of Opioid Use Disorder Syndrome?
People who abuse opioids get addicted to the euphoric feelings they feel when under the influence. And although it’s possible for people to use it once and never again, many people become addicted.
According to our opioid addiction treatment specialists in Michigan, a few symptoms to look out for if you suspect a loved one is addicted to opioids include:
- Excessive drug intake
- Unsuccessful efforts to reduce opioid use
- A strong desire to use opioids
- Using opioids even after experiencing serious personal or professional issues related to drug use
- Giving up formerly loved activities to instead use opioids
- A higher tolerance for opioids
- Withdrawal symptoms
Opioid Dependence
Those who have become dependent on opioid use may find themselves in an addictive pattern in as few as four weeks. This physical addiction renders the body so used to the drug that a person has difficulty functioning without it. With long-term use, stopping opioids can lead to chills, pain, diarrhea, restlessness, insomnia, and other withdrawal symptoms. Fortunately, although unpleasant, opioid withdrawal symptoms are not fatal. They do, however, come on so strongly that the user tends to seek opioids to “take the edge off.”
Find Opioid Treatment in Michigan
Those seeking opioid addiction treatment in Michigan may find relief with medication-assisted treatment (MAT). This combines counseling and behavioral therapies with medications that include the combination of methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. These long-acting medications are opioid antagonists, which affect the same receptors as opioids but without the euphoric effects. Those who utilize these medications for opioid addiction treatment often find that they have reduced cravings and fewer withdrawal symptoms.
Counseling and behavioral therapies are also essential components of MAT. These can help individuals with opioid use disorder syndrome address the underlying causes of their addiction, which might include mental health problems, stress, or unrealized trauma. Counseling and behavioral therapy may also help these individuals develop coping skills and improve their overall communication abilities. Aegis Medical offers confidential MAT utilizing phone and video along with online support groups.
Preventing Relapse
Those who undergo opioid addiction treatment may find that they are most successful at avoiding relapse when they combine their medication with the assistance of a trained mental health expert. We encourage those considering a relapse to reach out to a trusted friend, family member, or treatment provider for help.
Opioid use disorder syndrome is a devastating condition that has a negative effect on not just the sufferer but their friends and family as well. But hope exists in the form of opioid addiction treatment. If you suspect that someone you love is in the grasp of opioid addiction, help them seek help so that they can reclaim their lives.
Aegis Medical offers online opioid addiction treatment for those suffering from addiction. When you choose Aegis Medical, you can use your own pharmacy, benefit from our board-certified expertise, and receive treatment from anywhere from a judgment-free practitioner whose sole purpose is to help you walk your recovery journey with confidence. Dr. Peter Farago is licensed throughout the US and Canada and is a member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine, and the American Board of Preventive Medicine. Aegis Medical is also HIPAA Verified and accepts most insurance plans.