Opioid Addiction Treatment near St. Louis

When opioid medications are used as directed by a doctor, they can safely help to control severe pain. Cancer patients or people recovering after surgery may experience this level of pain. Doctors may prescribe opioids for some patients living with chronic pain. When patients don’t take their opioid medications as directed, patients run the risk of becoming addicted.  

Opioids come from the opium poppy plant (opium, heroin, morphine, and codeine). Synthetic opioids come from a laboratory. This group of drugs includes codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin), fentanyl (Actiq and Fentora), and many others.  

Along with reducing pain, opioids can produce a feeling of euphoria by stimulating the brain’s reward centers. The pleasurable effects of opioids can be a factor in their potential for misuse and addiction. Getting high is a pleasant experience; it makes users want to continue using opioids. Continued use can potentially turn into an addiction. At that point, the person no longer has control over whether they will use opioids.  

At a lower dose, opioids may make the drug user feel sleepy. Higher doses of opioids act as a depressant, which slows the user’s respiration and heart rates. If the respiration and heart rates drop low enough, the user may slip into a coma, which can be fatal.

Signs and Symptoms of Opioid Addiction 

The following signs and symptoms may indicate a health problem other than opioid addiction. The more symptoms a person has, the more likely it is that they have a substance abuse issue.  

Physical symptoms: 

• Digestive problems, such as vomiting or diarrhea 
• Nausea 
• Noticeable changes in personal appearance (weight loss or changes in personal hygiene) 
• Poor motor skills and coordination 
• Pupil constriction 
• Scabs, sores, or puncture wounds (indicative of IV drug use) 

Behavioral Symptoms: 

• Isolating oneself from family members and friends 
• Lying about pain levels doctor to receive a prescription for opioids 
• Making appointments for multiple different doctors to receive several prescriptions for opioids 
• Poor performance at work or school 
• Stealing medications from family members or friends 
• Unexplained absences 

Psychosocial symptoms: 

• Depression 
• Irritability 
• Mood swings 
• Sudden, unprovoked outbursts 
• Paranoia 

Opioid Addiction Statistics 

The American Society of Addiction Medicine provided these opioid addiction statistics.  

• In 2012, doctors wrote 259 million prescriptions for opioids. This number was “more than enough” to give each American adult a bottle of pills.  
• People often share their unused prescription pain medication, unaware of the potential for misuse and addiction. (Unused prescriptions should be taken to a pharmacy for safe disposal.) 
• Most adolescents who misuse drugs are given to them for free by a friend or a relative.  
• Drug overdose was the leading cause of accidental death in the United States in 2015. A total of 52,404 people died that year due to drug overdoses.  
• Prescription pain medications were responsible for 20,101 drug overdose deaths, and heroin was linked to 12,990 overdose deaths in 2015. 
• In 2015, 20.5 million Americans aged 12 or older had a substance use disorder. In that year, two million people had a substance use disorder involving pain medications. Another 591,000 people were addicted to heroin.  
• Approximately 23 percent of people who try heroin continue using it and become addicted to this drug.  

Potential Opioid Addiction Effects 

An opioid addiction can lead to short-term and long-term effects on a person. Drug overdoses attract a lot of media attention, but we shouldn’t ignore the other health effects of substance use disorders. 

Short-Term Effects of Opioid Addiction 

In the early stages of opioid addiction, a person may experience some (or all) of the following signs and symptoms: 

• Confusion 
• Constipation 
• Drowsiness 
• Euphoria 
• Nausea 
• Relaxation 
• Slowed breathing 

People who are abusing opioids may experience these effects both while under the influence of the drugs and shortly afterward. If they continue to misuse opioids, they will experience more severe effects.  

Changes to Social Life Due to Opioid Addiction.

Someone struggling with an opioid addiction will likely demonstrate the following symptoms: 

• Neglecting responsibilities at work, home, or school due to their drug use 
• Spending a lot of time finding, using, and recovering from opioid use 
• Continuing to use opioids despite relationship conflicts 
• Avoiding important social occasions or giving up hobbies to use

Opioid use over a long time can lead to physical dependence. At that point, the person will experience withdrawal symptoms if they stop using their drug of choice. There are several risks associated with long-term misuse. 

Cardiovascular System

Long-term opioid users are at risk for heart rhythm abnormalities (atrial fibrillation, a condition that can lead to more serious cardiac events like heart failure, stroke, and death). Female opioid users may be at increased risk of heart disease.  

Injection opioid users are at risk for blood-borne bacterial infections from sharing needles. These infections can lead to endocarditis when the heart’s inner lining becomes infected. Without treatment, endocarditis can be fatal.  

HIV and Other Infectious Diseases

Opioid users who inject drugs are at high risk for contracting HIV and viral hepatitis. These diseases can spread quickly by sharing contaminated needles and other tools used for injecting drugs.  

Non-injection opioid users may also be at risk of transmitting infectious diseases through unsafe sexual practices.  

GI System Issues

Long-term opioid use can lead to either recurrent or chronic constipation. GI issues are common side effects of opioid use. Almost half (45 percent) of people using opioids experience some constipation to the extent they either have to reduce their dosage or stop using opioids. In severe cases, the constipation may result in a bowel obstruction, which may be fatal.  

Opioid use can also cause bloating, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. GI symptoms due to opioid use may also lead to psychological distress and depression among users.  

Reproductive Health

Male and female reproductive health can be negatively impacted by long-term opioid use. Women may experience decreased fertility, a higher risk of miscarriage, as well as pregnancy complications like placental abruption and preterm birth. Long-term opioid use in men may impact their testosterone production and lower the quantity and quality of their sperm.  

Babies born to mothers who use opioids during their pregnancy may suffer from opioid withdrawal (neonatal abstinence syndrome). They may also be at higher risk for the following: 

• Congenital disabilities 
• Longer stays in hospital post-birth 
• Being re-hospitalized within the first 30 days of life 
• Developmental delays 

Mental Health Effects

Continuing to misuse opioids can increase the likelihood of becoming depressed and developing an anxiety disorder. Depression can improve physical and emotional pain, which can continue the cycle of addiction: The person feels depressed or anxious, so they continue using opioids, and the opioid use increases their feelings of depression or anxiety, which encourages them to continue using the drugs. Seeking treatment for mental health concerns deals with those symptoms and may assist the person in breaking free from their addiction.  

Therapies Used in Opioid Addiction Treatment 

The Aviary’s opioid addiction treatment program includes medically supervised detoxification. We offer prescription drug addiction treatment as well as help for people who have become addicted to illicit opioids.  

Therapy can begin once our clients are free from the influence of chemicals. Each client gets a personalized treatment plan according to their personal history, length of time they were using opioids, and recovery goals. 

The Aviary’s opioid treatment programs include healthy eating, exercise, teaching coping strategies, and alternative therapies (acupuncture, music therapy, art therapy, and equine therapy.) Clients may also receive medication as appropriate to help control cravings.