Explanation of Opioids

Description of Opioids

Opioids (oh-pee-oyds) are typically prescription medication that is utilized by physicians to treat and alleviate pain, explains drug treatments Florida. The mode of action of these drugs is via reducing the number of pain signals an individual's body sends to the brain. Furthermore, these drugs change the mode by which a person’s brain responds to the symptoms of pain. Drug and alcohol treatment Florida observes that the primary usages for this class of pain medication is for pain reduction associated with dental procedures and toothaches, back injuries, post-operatively after surgical procedures and chronic conditions such as cancer. Additionally, it is not uncommon to find opioids in prescription cough medicines prescribe by physicians. 

David Kolker, Therapist at Sober Living Outpatient, "though once opioids are used for him intended purpose (mainly to relieve pain or symptoms associated there from), they can be extremely effective, the primary concern is that they are physically addictive, thus, meaning that an individual who utilizes these drugs for prolonged periods of time will develop tolerance and withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation.

How do we define Addiction?

Addiction is a brain disorder that impacts a person biologically, socially and psychologically. Typically, drug and alcohol treatment Florida recognizes that addiction is characterized by an inability to stop a substance or predict the usage pattern after an individual begins to ingest the substance. Moreover, Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Florida observes that addiction is a process whereby the choice to use drugs and alcohol are impeded and the brain, after prolonged usage, changes in such a way that urges to use the substance dramatically changes a person's behavior.

List of typical Opioid Drugs:

• Opium
• Codeine
• Fentanyl
• Heroin
• hydrocodone
• hydromorphone
• methadone
• morphine
• oxycodone
• oxymorphone
• paregoric
• sufentanil
• tramadol

Tolerance: Indicative of Addiction and Dependence

How do we define tolerance? David Kolker, Therapist at Drug and Alcohol treatment Florida and Sober Living Outpatient, states, "Tolerance is a process whereby an individual’s body, after prolonged usage of opioids, begins to get used to the drug and increased amounts of the drug are needed to achieve the same effect at earlier tiny ability." to a positive level time and again, sympathy exist once a person must take increasingly higher doses of a drug or substance to reach a euphoric state or achieve pain relief.

Drug Dependence: Indicative of Addiction and Dependence

What is drug dependence? Drug dependence is a process whereby the brain changes as a result of increased and prolonged usage of a drug or substance. Additionally, the process of drug dependence includes changes in the way an individual's body reacts to a drug or substance over prolonged usages of the drug or substance. Drug and Alcohol Treatment Florida recognizes that the keystone indicator of drug dependence is withdrawal upon discontinuation of the drug or substance. When the individual ceases the intake of the drug or substance, quite often, they will suffer from the following symptoms:

1. Sweating
2. Nausea
3. Vomiting
4. Chills
5. Diarrhea
6. Shaking
7. Body Pain
8. Severe depression
9. Insomnia

These symptoms will typically subside after several days of discontinuation of the drug; however, drug and substance dependence and the side effects there from, often prevent individuals from cessation of the substance or drug.