The Risks of Opioid Use Disorder

Opioids have been prescribed for pain relief by medical professionals for patients who suffer from chronic pain. However, some patients end up physically and psychologically dependent on opioids to function. What started as a means of mitigating symptoms of one disease can be the beginning of another disease-related addiction.

This is because opioids stimulate the body’s opioid receptors, which in turn induce a feeling of euphoria – what is commonly referred to as getting high. The negative effects of substance abuse are well documented. You have probably heard stories of how someone lost their job or was ostracized by their family because of their dependence on alcohol or an opioid.

If you’re considering opioid-based treatment for the symptoms of a condition, you need to be aware of the following risks of opioid use disorder:

 Loss of control

Back in the 90s, as opioids were being introduced to the market through prescription drugs, pharmaceutical companies assured consumers that they would not get addicted. On the back of these claims, medical practitioners began prescribing them in higher quantities. By 2017, even the government acknowledged opioid addiction was a nationwide crisis that needed to be tackled urgently.

Many patients that were prescribed opioids succumbed to addiction and lost control of their lives in the process. With their minds constantly craving the state of euphoria induced by the drugs, patients became psychologically and even physically dependent on opioids to function.

With the increased usage of opioids, users of prescription opioids wanted higher and higher quantities of the drug to achieve the same sensation of gratification. Eventually, their lives began to revolve around reliving the pleasure triggered by opioids.

 Nonfulfillment of social obligations

As the quest for the next hit becomes the user’s main preoccupation, all their other duties and responsibilities fade into insignificance. It is important to note at this point that dependence on opioids is not a moral failing or symptomatic of a lack of willpower in the user. It is a disorder clinically diagnosed as an opioid use disorder.

This disorder will cause the user to prioritize obtaining and using opioids above everything else in their lives. A user may struggle to focus on their work as they struggle with intense cravings for the drug. They might cause them to skip work the following day after a night of heavy indulgence. Many patients with opioid use disorder have been unable to hold on to jobs due to this.

Relationships with family members may begin to suffer strain as the user struggles to keep their abuse of opioids hidden from them. As they prioritize their next fix over important family obligations, they begin to nurse feelings of guilt and despair. These feelings may lead them to withdraw from their loved ones, further deepening divisions.

Leads to psychological problems

Their lowered sense of self-esteem has led many sufferers of opioid-use disorder to develop psychological problems. Even if they can see that the habits arising from opioid abuse lead to fractured relationships with the people who matter, they cannot help themselves.

The continuous cycle of guilt, helplessness, and despair leads to psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression. This is because many opioid-use disorder victims see their state as a result of character weaknesses or lack of willpower rather than a disease. Therefore, instead of seeking help, they withdraw from those who would be their support system. This makes them vulnerable to even more serious psychological consequences such as suicidal thoughts.

If you notice a friend or loved one becoming withdrawn, strive to be proactive in getting them help. Reach out to them and show love. By doing this, they will be willing to give it a shot when you recommend them to a Massachusetts drug rehabilitation center.

lt leads to death

Succumbing to suicidal thoughts is but one of the ways opioid abuse can result in death. Continued, heavy usage of opioids can result in a fatal overdose. In 2020, more than 48,000 people were reported to have died from opioid overdose. Almost half of these were from prescribed opioids.

An opioid overdose occurs when too many opioids in the brain interfere with the flow of blood to this vital organ. Overdose can also lead to respiratory depression, causing the lungs to fill up with fluid, fatally reducing the amount of oxygen circulating in the body. The heart and the veins that deliver blood back can also cease to function, leading to death.

Time is of the essence

Given how grave the consequences of opioid abuse can be, you need to be diligent in helping those around you who may be suffering from this disorder. Draw them in with love and help them understand that they’re suffering from a disease like any other. Then urgently get them professional medical help.