Opiate Addiction, Treatment, And Prevention

Opiate Addiction Is A Very Serious, But Treatable Illness

2009-04-01T08:57:00.001-07:00

Opiate addiction is a very serious illness, which can lead to depression, hopelessness, and sometimes death. Opiate addiction is a brain disease characterized by increased tolerance leading to more and more substance needed to achieve the same effect. Addiction To Opiates is both physical and psychological, requiring an intense inpatient program in order to best detox off the drug and transition into living without drugs. One thing that you need to understand about opiate addiction is that it is a lot different from other cases of substance dependency. Currently, the only FDA approved option for treating opiate addiction is through the use of methadone and buprenorphine, both of which are synthetic opiates with their own addictive tendencies.

Getting off heroin and other opiates isn't easy, but detox is the first step. Detox in and of itself is simply the removal of a drug from a person's body. Detox may eliminate opiates from the body, but it doesn’t restore the body’s natural, healthy chemistry. Detox from opiates like heroin, OxyContin, Lortab and Vicodin requires close supervision. But, if a person is successful in detox and dedicated to kicking the habit, the chances are greatly increased.

Withdrawal symptoms from opiates start within a few hours of your last missed dose and include nausea and vomiting, sweating, irritability, body and muscle aches, insomnia and an increase in intensity over the next few days, lasting for weeks. Rapid opiate detox is a procedure which allows patients to undergo the severe opiate withdrawal symptoms associated with detoxification while under anesthesia. In clinical studies, Buprenorphine has proven effective in minimizing the extremely painful side effects of opiate withdrawal without patients feeling either euphoria or sedation.

After prolonged opiate use, the nerve cells in the brain, which would otherwise produce endogenous opiates (natural painkillers, or endorphins), cease to function normally. When these nerve cells degenerate, a need for the drug or high physical tolerance is present, requiring that more and more of the drug be ingested in order to avoid the onset of painful withdrawal symptoms. During professional opium treatment, detox pains can be managed through continual medical observation and care, and through the use of non narcotic pain relievers, anxiolitics and anti depressant medications.

Buprenorphine treatment can eliminate or reduce many withdraw symptoms and allow an addicted person to address the root problem without the pain and discomfort of withdrawal. Buprenorphine works by acting on the brain's own opiate receptors , targets for heroin, morphine and prescription opioids , to relieve drug cravings without prompting the same intense high or dangerous side effects.

Opiate Addiction Is The Most Powerful Form Of Addiction

2009-04-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

Opiate addiction is much different than that of other substances that are abused and can cause addiction. Opiate addiction is a serious problem in our country and will become an even bigger problem in the years ahead. The persistent use of opiates and is thought to be a disorder of the central nervous system. Though opiate painkillers are prescribed by physicians, opiate addiction is an insidious medical disease. But since opiate addiction is far more than a “behavior problem,” treatment requires more than just therapy.

Addiction today is no longer confided to the alley’s, but instead is in our neighborhoods and our homes. Addiction professionals more frequently recommend opium treatment that involves a short and intense period of detox, but after which the physical dependency to opium is over, and the recovering addict can better participate in therapies of relapse avoidance, and hopefully within a relatively short period learn the life strategies needed to stay opium free for life. Some of the signs and symptoms of opiate addiction may include but are not limited to:Restlessness, Hyperactive behavior, Poor physical coordination, Inability to concentrate, Poor judgment, Slurred speech, Bouts of euphoria followed by bouts of extreme depression, Accelerated heartbeat which can ultimately result in coma or death. The road to opiate addiction treatment begins by understanding that this is a brain disorder and not a will power or moral issue, and that treatment options are available to those that suffer with this disease.

Treatment for opiate addiction entails a grueling detoxification and withdrawal suffering that can be followed by intense physical and psychological cravings, lasting months. Due to variability in brain recovery, many addicts may require prolonged treatment or supportive medications in order to discontinue their addictive lifestyles. Since the body becomes physically addicted to the drug, the body too must be cleaned of its effects before treatment can progress. Any detox can be extremely painful with severe physical symptoms that may be traumatic if attempted without medical treatment.

Withdrawal from opiates can be very trying on the body and generally requires medical assistance to ease the patient through the process as much as possible. Disruption of endorphin production is thought to be associated with a need to increase opiate use in order to avoid the onset of painful withdrawal symptoms. Suboxone (an alternative to Methadone) was created for the user to be able to avoid withdrawal symptoms while in the mean time during treatment rebuilding the receptors in the brain that have been destroyed while using narcotics. Methadone is a rigorously well-tested medication that is safe and effective for the treatment of narcotic withdrawal and dependence.

Opiates Are Highly Addictive Drugs That Range From Prescription Pills To Heroine

2009-03-30T14:32:00.001-07:00

Opiates date back thousands of years and are also referred to as narcotics. Narcotic addicts, when faced with shortages in their supply, often substitute various narcotic drugs for others. Opiates are central nervous system depressants. Immediately after taking the drug the user will experience a rush of euphoria. Drugs derived from opium bind to opiate receptors found throughout the central nervous system which cause the release of endorphins, the bodies natural opiates.

Opiates are hard for a person to stop using because of their strong addictive nature and also because of their terrible withdrawal symptoms. If a person does not check themselves into an addiction treatment center in order to try to kick the habit, chances are good that they are not going to be able to stop using the drugs on their own. Opiates are so named because they are constituents or derivatives of opium , which is processed from the latex sap of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum . The major biologically active opiates found in opium are morphine , codeine , thebaine and papaverine . Opiates are powerfully addictive analgesic drugs that deaden nerve pathways related to pain. Abusers of propoxyphene (Darvon), meperidine (Demerol), percocet (Oxycodone), heroin, morphine, and other powerfully addictive opiates quickly build up a tolerance to the drugs and need progressively larger doses to achieve the desired effect.

Opiates are derived from opium poppies. These include morphine and codeine. Opiates are classed as depressants, although they won't necessarily make a user feel depressed. Depressants slow down activity in the brain and central nervous system. Opiates are effective for the treatment of chronic pain. Opiates are commonly referred to as "downers” although they tend to bring on sensations of euphoria, pleasure, and tranquility. Opiates can appear in many forms: white powder or crystals; small white, yellow or orange pills; large colorful capsules; clear liquid and dark brown, sticky bars or balls. Semi-synthetic opiates are created from natural opioids and include buprenorphine , hydrocodone , oxycodone , hydromorphone and oxymorphone. Natural opiates are contained in the resin of the opium poppy plant and include morphine and codeine.

Addiction to opiates is as old as opiates themselves and is a chronic illness like heart disease, high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Persons with these chronic diseases are prone to relapse. Addiction doesn't always occur among people who use opiate pain relievers, however, inappropriate use of prescription drugs can lead to addiction in some cases. Patients, healthcare professionals, and pharmacists all have roles in preventing misuse and addiction. Along with the frightening short-term effects of some opiates, addiction can lead you to forgo everything else in your life (food, clothing, housing, medical care) so you can afford to take opiates as often as possible.

Before modern times the most common and widely used form of opiate was opium. Opium has amazing narcotic properties and has been used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years. It was a popular pain-reliever for the ancient Macedonaians who named the drug. Opium was used as a narcotic by Hippocrates, introduced to Persia and India by Alexander the Great, and used as painkillers by Paracelsus during the Renaissance. Alexander Wood, first administered it by injection with a syringe.

Morphine was introduced in the late 19th century as a pain reliever for sufferers of chronic pain. Morphine usually comes as a pink liquid or tablets. Percocet and percodan come as tablets, drops or liquid. Morphine does not consistently reduce the neuropathic pain. Morphine is the primary constituent of crude opium. Morphine is used medicinally in the United Sates to alleviate moderate to severe pain and can be obtained by prescription from a doctor.

Heroin was first prepared from morphine by boiling it with acetic anhydride, and then using a process that involved hydrochloric acid, strychnine, and caffeine. Heroin and the most dangerous and highly addictive form of opiate and is a Schedule I drug in the US with no known medical application.

Rapid Opiate Detox Is An Effective But Risky Treatment Option For Addiction

2009-03-30T14:30:00.000-07:00

Done without assistance, opiate detoxification is a very long and painful process that can result in permanent damage to the cardiovascular and central nervous system. Untreated and unmonitored, opiate withdrawal can result in death for unhealthy patients not involved in a medically supervised opiate detox program. Rapid opiate detox is the initial step to recovery / rehabilitation from drug addiction for many people. Rapid detoxification also known as 'ultra rapid opiate detox', is precisely that "rapid detoxification for opiate / chemical based substances and narcotic drug addictions". Opiate Detox uses different medications to prevent the withdrawal signs and uncomfortable symptoms.

Rapid detox is normally carried out in a hospital under general anesthesia and is supervised by qualified medical personnel (anesthesiologists) who are experienced in carrying out detoxification. This process, also known as AAROD or anesthesia assisted rapid opiate detoxification. Rapid detox is a medical procedure that allows detoxification to occur within the span of a day. This kind of detox program is a great start, but it is only the first step to living a drug free life.

Ultra Rapid Opiate Detoxification (UROD) procedures have never been fully evaluated in controlled trials, and certainly do no more than provide a relatively discomfort-free detox to persons who are opioid-dependent. Ultra Rapid Detox has higher risks than other other detox methods and remains controversial within the medical community. The Ultra Rapid Detox process is nearly always conducted in a hospital setting while the patient is under general anesthesia. The process needs to be overseen by certified anesthesiologists and a nursing staff that specialize in such procedures. Ultra Rapid Opiate Detox is a procedure that has been in use since the late 1980s. The method uses an opiate antagonist to "clean" the opiate receptors in the brain.

Researchers say there may be some inherent danger in giving prolonged anesthesia to someone whose heart function or body chemistry is already compromised by heroin use. The technique of rapid opiate detoxification using general anesthesia has emerged as a new but unproven approach to treat opiate dependence.Today, a new form of rapid detox has emerged called the Waismann Method, or Accelerated Neuro-Regulation. It is performed by a handful of select treatment clinics throughout the world. This accelerated withdrawal occurs within a period of hours, not days as with traditional methods. Upon awakening, the patient is no longer physically dependent on opiates and has no conscious awareness of experiencing the withdrawal process.

Opiate Affects On The Brain Are Very Severe And Sometimes Permanent

2009-03-30T14:29:00.000-07:00

Opiates stimulates the pleasure centers in key areas of the brain. This system involves neurons in the midbrain that use the neurotransmitter called "dopamine." These midbrain dopamine neurons project to another structure called the nucleus accumbens which then projects to the cerebral cortex. This system is responsible for the pleasurable effects of some opiates and for the addictive power of the drug. Interestingly, researchers have found that although opiates and nicotine are very different substances, the end result as far as dopamine signaling is very much the same.

Opioid receptors and endorphins in the brain also interact with the neurotransmitters dopamine and noradrenaline which have long been implicated in depression. It is thought therefore that a deficiency of endorphins may also be involved in depression and that they and agents that mimic them, may be a useful treatment. This excessive release of dopamine and stimulation of the reward system can lead to addiction. Opiate addiction often develops gradually and many victims are unaware that they are in need of treatment until they are highly dependent on opiates.

Opiates such a heroin that taken intravenously often induce emesis. The explanation for this may be that the area of the brain responsible for mediating opioid-induced emesis has a permeable blood-brain barrier. Activities that release endorphins are usually habit-forming (we rarely call them addictive). These include cracking knuckles, strenuous exercise, and orgasm. Detox medications used in the treatment of opiate addiction have the potential for abuse because they are classified as opiate and can produce sensations of euphoria, analgesia and sedation like other opiates, though to a lesser degree. The medications also don’t impair cognitive or motor skills like their addictive counterparts, and work by blocking the effects of more potent opiates on brain receptors, thus disabling the user’s ability to get high.

Semi-synthetic opiates are created from naturally occurring opioids and include buprenorphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, hydromorphone and oxymorphone. Due to their pain relieving properties, opiates and sythentic opiates are the most often prescribed type of prescription drugs.Powerful opiates such as heroine, morphine, and opium produce an intense euphoria, or rush, that lasts only briefly and is followed by a few hours of a relaxed, contented state. Opiates activate pathways in the brain that block pain and create euphoria. Sudden withdrawal by heavily dependent users who are in poor health is occasionally fatal, although heroin withdrawal is considered much less dangerous than alcohol or barbiturate withdrawal.

Withdrawal Symptoms From Opiate Addiction Can Be Very Severe

2009-03-29T20:51:00.001-07:00

There are medical risks associated with the withdrawal from opiate type drugs up to and including death dependant on a variety of health related circumstances. This is why a medical professional should always play a major role in the sudden withdrawal from opiates, especially when large quantities are used frequently. Opiate withdrawal symptoms will occur if opiate use is abruptly discontinued because opiates are physically addicting. As it happens in any addiction, the body will simply adapt to the presence of the opiate.

Not in itself a treatment for addiction, detoxification is a useful step only when it leads into long-term treatment that is either drug-free (residential or outpatient) or uses medications as part of the treatment. The best documented drug-free treatments are the therapeutic community residential programs lasting 3 to 6 months. No matter how you got addicted, once dependant, you need to endure the pains of opiate detox. Few people have the strength to go it alone, and when the pains get bad and pills can be bought at the nearest pharmacy, it's hard to maintain resolve.

The philosophy behind the detoxification program for opiates is generally to switch the individual from short-acting opioids, which are more highly addictive, to long-acting opioids. It is much easier to slowly taper or cut back on a long-acting opioid than a short-acting opioid, thus leading to fewer withdrawal symptoms. Until recently their has almost always been a healthy stigma attached to opiate addiction. Not only society's general consensus was "Once a heroin addict, always a heroin addict."

Avoiding the severe pain, nausea, agitation, sweats and other symptoms of opiate withdrawal are among the many reasons addicts are motivated to continue taking drugs. Now, researchers have found that disrupting the brain's stress-response mechanism exacerbates behavioral withdrawal symptoms in mice, and that giving the mice the hormone corticosterone alleviates those symptoms. However, because they don't have the psychological attachment to the drug seen in addiction, withdrawal symptoms are often less distressing. Some people are able to complete the withdrawal in less than two weeks but for most people the process takes months or even years.
While individual real-life experiences can be a valuable health resource, they must be viewed in the context of evidence-based data and are not a substitute for medical advice.

You should always consult a qualified health care professional before beginning, changing or stopping a treatment. One of the most widely prescribed medications, Vicodin and its related medications, loricet, loritab percodan, and oxycontin are opioid-based pain medications. Vicodin is a derivative of opium, which also used to manufacture heroin. Although many people use pain pills or pain medication for legitimate use, there are many individuals who wind up addicted to pain pills, narcotic medications and other pain medications.

Understanding The Underlying Causes Of Opiate Addiction

2009-03-29T20:50:00.000-07:00

People in AA will often say that it isn't the alcohol that is the problem; it is the 'ism' that causes the damage. Such is the case with opiates as well—the opiate is not the issue, but rather it is the obsession with opiates that causes the misery and despair. For example, ibuprofen and acetaminophen (found in vicodin and vicoprofen) can cause liver damage and even failure if high enough doses are consumed. In their purest form and in no combination with other drugs, the majority of opioids are actually benign in the body, the only risk associated w/ their use is dependency and withdrawal. But some opiods, including heroin, morphine, and opium are far from safe and can cause full blown addiction. Prolonged usage can cause physical damage to the body, although not necessarily from the drug itself. Repeated injections with dirty needles can result in diseases such as Hepatitis, AIDS and Tetanus, especially when sharing needles.

Due to their pain relieving properties, opioids are the most often prescribed type of prescription drugs. Some of the medications that are opiates include drugs like morphine and codeine. There are close to a million chronic opioid addicts in the United States and less than 25 percent of them seek treatment. Those who do seek care have relatively poor outcomes in traditional abstinence-based treatment programs . In the brain, heroin is converted to morphine and binds rapidly to opioid receptors. Abusers typically report feeling a surge of pleasurable sensation, a "rush." The intensity of the rush is a function of how much drug is taken and how rapidly the drug enters the brain and binds to the natural opioid receptors.

Two of the most commonly known opioid analogs are fentanyl and meperidine (marketed under the brand name Demerol). In addition to relieving pain, opioid drugs can affect regions of the brain that mediate what we perceive as pleasure, resulting in the initial euphoria that many opioids produce. They can also produce drowsiness, cause constipation, and, depending upon the amount of drug taken, depress breathing.

Not long ago, opiate dependency was viewed as a condition with no solution . Patients with opiate physical dependency were considered to have inherited an addictive personality or psychological disorder or to have suffered with a dysfunctional family life. Opiate addiction is a serious condition, but it is one that can be treated. Like all drug addictions, opiate is a medical condition attacking the nervous system in the brain and spinal cord. One possible reason for how the addiction starts is the inaccessibility of this drug in its cheaper, generic form in anything smaller than 80 milligrams.

Treatment Options For Opiate Addictions Include Medication, Rehab And Detox

2009-03-29T20:49:00.000-07:00

The main form of treatment for opiate addiction treatment is drug rehab. The long-term success rate for those who complete an opiate rehab is very low unforunately. Pharmacological therapy alone rarely achieves long-term success. Thus Suboxone detox should be combined with concurrent behavioral therapies and with the provision of needed addiction treatment services. Recovery from opiate addiction is a long-term process that often requires multiple attempts and many behavioral changes. Most people relapse several times before achieving long-term abstinence, regardless of whether the drug of abuse is nicotine, cocaine, heroin or other addictive substances.

Rapid detoxification is another treatment option that helps reduce the distress of opiate withdrawal for people who are chemically dependent on opiates such as heroin, Vicodin, Percocet, Demerol, Dilaudid, Darvocet, OxyContin, opium, morphine, codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, prescription painkillers, and all narcotic type drugs. It shortens the detoxification period and spares patients the pain and physical discomforts of withdrawal. Rapid detoxification tends to be very effective but it also tends to be very expensive and most insurances will not cover the treatment.

Legally prescribed and illegally attained opiate based drugs are unfortunately plentiful in every town in the nation and subsequently you will find those who are addicted to these drugs everywhere you look. Someone who has become addicted to opiates will need rehabilitation because the addiction is so strong that the biggest majority of people who are addicted cannot break free without intense help..

Yet another treatment option for opiate addiction is group counseling sessions after a period of detox. Many drug addicts find group counseling intimidating at first, but the truth is that the trust built up through group counseling sessions will help you learn how to effectively communicate with other people. In group drug and alcohol counseling your group will work on learning how to express emotions openly and trust others. The drugs that comprise the opiate family can destroy relationships as well as physical and psychological health. The professionals at opiate rehab programs help alter the course of those with heroin addiction, Vicodin addiction or other opiate-based addictions and chart a path towards a happy, fulfilling life.

Finally, Naxalone is another treatment option that reverses the effects of heroin and other related opioid drugs. Food and Drug Administration has approved Naxalone for the purpose of opiate detoxification. The medication’s active ingredient is oxycodone, which is also found in drugs like Percodan, Percocet and Tylox. In Oxycontin the drug is found in a potent, sustained release (time release) form containing anywhere from 10 to 160 mg of oxycodone. Cognitive-behavioral interventions are designed to help modify the patient's expectations and behaviors related to drug use, and to increase skills in coping with various life stressors. Both behavioral and pharmacological treatments help to restore a degree of normalcy to brain function and behavior during and after the withdraw process from opiates.

Opiate Withdraw Symptoms Tend To Be Severe For Most Recovering Addicts

2009-03-29T20:48:00.000-07:00

Opiate withdrawal symptoms are too severe to go through on your own, which will often lead to a return to opiate addiction. A quality opiate detox program should be a medically based program complete with 24-hour nursing, 24-hour addiction treatment staff and a physician trained in addiction medicine (A.S.A.M). Opiate addiction is a very serious illness, which can lead to depression, hopelessness, and sometimes death. While opiate abuse can take many forms, the general effect of any opiate is pain relief. Depression is very common for most people in withdrawal and it can be quite acute. The depression that most people feel is centered around the guilt and shame of their predicament.

Abruptly stopping the use of opiates can cause withdrawal symptoms to begin, which can be life threatening. The words opiates and opioids are often used interchangeably. Depressive symptoms can last up to two years once a person has discontinued their use of crystal meth. Individuals need both medical and psychological treatment in order to overcome this dangerous addiction.

Withdrawal symptoms from opiate addiction are basically like waking up every morning into a panic-state of hell. The symptoms can include but are not limited to: sweating, stomach cramping, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle aches, hot and cold chills, bone pain, insomnia, panic, runny nose, dilated pupils and restlessness. Very unpleasant and very memorable. Although even psychological dependence ends up manifesting physiological symptoms (i.e., anxiety, sweating). cravings and other withdrawal symptoms can trigger relapse, even after a period of abstinence.

Some addiction patients complain that these symptoms last up to 2-5 weeks. All of these symptoms can be quite pronounced, causing the patient to revert back to their original drug use. Withdrawal is characterized by excessive sleeping, eating and depression-like symptoms, often accompanied by anxiety and drug-craving.
As with any drug addiction, the body has adapted to the presence of the opiate and opiate withdrawal symptoms will occur if opiate use is abruptly discontinued. If you are opiate dependant or suffer from opiate addiction, it is not recommended you just “stop” taking opiates without consulting an addiction professional and entering an opiate detox program. Short-acting opiates tend to produce more intense but briefer symptoms. The effect of a single dose of heroin, a relatively short-acting drug, lasts 4–6 hours, and the withdrawal reaction typically lasts for about a week but in some cases may last up to four weeks depending upon the length of time the person was addicted to the drug.

Opiate Dependency Is A Difficult Addiction To Break

2009-03-29T20:47:00.000-07:00

The medical community are discovering that opiate dependency is a central nervous system disorder caused by continuous opiate intake. While the number of heroin dependents is increasing at an alarming rate, a previously unrecognized opiate dependency is moving to the forefront - prescription painkiller addiction (which are usually derived from opiates). Opiate dependency is unlike other substance dependencies, in that an individual is more likely to become physically dependent well before becoming psychologically addicted. Treatment for opiate dependent persons includes detoxification through the use of methadone .

In addition, the antiquated notion that addiction is an incurable disease and belief that once an addict, always an addict, needs to be dispelled. Patients are tired of being hostage of a belief that they must be eternally dependent on treatments and maintenance drugs. In most cases, the power of addiction is too strong for an individual to battle on their own. They need the support of loved ones and the help of qualified professionals. Nobody likes to admit they're an addict and nobody likes to admit that they need help. However, a successful opiates rehab will require that a person do both these things.

There is a new "Miracle Pill" called Suboxone (buprenorphine) now available that has been proven successful in treating opiate dependency. It is the first medicine to be approved by the FDA to treat opiate dependency in over 20 years. A similar drug, Subutex, has buprenorphine without naloxone. Subutex also is used for treatment of chronic pain.

Fortunately, good treatments for heroin addiction already exist, and better ones are on the horizon. Unfortunately, clinicians, policy makers, and the lay public are often unaware of the options and which approach is best for which patient. The medicinal use of opioids is primarily to reduce pain following surgery or trauma, or to treat the pain associated with cancer or other chronic diseases. Some heroin-dependent persons are not suitable for pharmacological treatments or are unwilling to consider them.

The death rate of people who use opioids is disproportionately high compared with that of people who use other IV drugs such as cocaine and phencyclidine (PCP). Heroin overdose comprises a substantial component of opioid-related mortality. Over 65 percent of the patients who are treated with the Waismann Method remain drug free after one year. Unfortunately, prescription medicine is now second only to marijuana among the drugs most abused by adults and young people, and many of those battling dependencies to prescription painkillers could be your closest colleagues, friends, or family members.