Opioids are some of the most addictive substances in existence today, and consequently, they’ve made a devastating impact on our society. In 2021 alone, 2.5 million adults in the United States suffered from opioid use disorder—and only one in five of them received medications to treat it, shares the National Institute on Drug Abuse. As opioid addiction remains pervasive in our communities, it’s important to recognize the signs of opioid abuse so you can help your loved ones (and even yourself) find real healing if they’re struggling.
Why Does Opioid Abuse Happen?
Prescription opioids are still recommended by certain physicians today. If you’re taking opioids prescribed by your doctor, it doesn’t mean you’re abusing them. Opioids are primarily used as painkillers, but they can also reduce your heart rate and lower respiration with misuse. Opioids can even cause you to feel a sense of euphoria. Common prescription opioids, shares the National Institute on Drug Abuse, include:
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin®)
- Oxycodone (OxyContin®, Percocet®)
- Oxymorphone (Opana®)
- Morphine (Kadian®, Avinza®)
- Codeine
- Fentanyl
Opioids by design are meant to be taken only for a short time. But if someone continues to use them well past their prescribed time frame, they can start down a path of opioid abuse. Before long, they’re obtaining pills through illicit means, such as stealing someone else’s prescription or buying them off the street.
From Opioid Abuse to Addiction
As you take opioids for an extended period of time, you can develop a chemical dependency on the drug. When this happens, your body and brain equate opioids as necessary to your survival. But how does opioid abuse like this occur? It starts with how opioids work in your body.
When you use prescription opioids, the drug blocks pain receptors in your brain while simultaneously releasing large amounts of dopamine, a chemical your brain associates with pleasure and reward. As a result, your brain associates opioids with pleasure, so you want to continue taking the drug to achieve the happy, euphoric feelings you initially had.
However, your continued opioid abuse leads your body to develop a tolerance to the drug. Consequently, you need stronger, more frequent doses to achieve the same high. Before long, your opioid abuse turns into an addiction, where you’re unable to stop using opioids. And the opioid withdrawal symptoms you experience when you don’t take the drug make it harder to quit. Your addiction may become so desperate that prescription painkillers are replaced with heroin, a stronger, cheaper, and more dangerous opioid.
Six Common Signs of Opioid Abuse
If someone is struggling with opioid abuse or addiction, they’ll likely do their best to hide it from others. However, there are some key signs of opioid abuse you can look for if you’re concerned about a loved one—or yourself, including:
Avoidant Tendencies
Often with any addictive substance, the addict is in denial about their struggles. Because of societal stigmas associated with drug addiction, it isn’t easy for someone to admit they have a problem and need help. If you’ve been asking your loved one about their opioid use and they brush it off, it could be a sign of opioid abuse.
If your loved one is an addict, much of their time is spent obtaining opioids, using them, and recovering from their effects. That means you may notice that they’re abnormally unavailable or busy, or even avoid spending time with you out of fear of being discovered.
Fatigue
Over time, opioid abuse can negatively impact your sleep cycle. In essence, the drug affects your circadian rhythms, causing less restorative sleep and rapid eye movement. As a result, you’re often tired due to poor sleep quality. And if you’re struggling with opioid withdrawal, you’ll find it difficult to sleep well, too.
Financial Challenges
When you’re struggling with opioid abuse and addiction, you’ll do whatever you can to feed your addiction. This includes spending substantial amounts of money to get your pills. Once your prescription runs out, you have to obtain your pills illegally, which can get expensive quickly. You may also take identifiable (and desperate) financial steps to pay for your drugs, including:
- Withdrawing large amounts of money from your bank account
- Selling prized family possessions
- Stealing
Weight Loss (and Hair Loss)
Sudden weight loss is one of the most noticeable signs and symptoms of opioid addiction and abuse. Opioid usage lowers your metabolism in general, so when you’re addicted, you don’t have much of an appetite at all. That’s why many opioid abusers will skip meals or drastically change their diets, resulting in rapid weight loss—and even hair loss due to malnutrition.
Mysterious Flu-Like Symptoms
If you or your loved one is constantly dealing with flu-like symptoms for no apparent reason, it could be the signs of opioid withdrawal. And if you’re struggling with opioid withdrawal, you’re struggling with opioid abuse and addiction, too. Common opioid withdrawal symptoms can include:
- Headache
- Fever
- Runny nose
- Vomiting
- Sneezing
- Diarrhea
- Coughing
Fluctuating Mood Swings
If you’re addicted to opioids, your brain’s neurotransmitters—responsible for motivation, mood, and reward—are out of balance. So you may end up motivated and happy at one moment and depressed or sad the next as a result. That’s why dramatic mood swings are a telltale sign that you may need opioid addiction treatment.
Your Next Step: Opioid Abuse Treatment in New England
If you or your loved one resonates with any of the above signs of opioid abuse, you need to seek professional help to overcome your dependency. You simply can’t quit alone. At Sana at Stowe, our opioid addiction treatment facility in Stowe, VT, we can address the root causes of your opioid abuse, not just your symptoms. To achieve long-term healing through compassionate, evidence-based treatment and reclaim your life, contact our team now.
