Opioid Addiction Help: The Common Signs Someone is Abusing Opioids

You've seen the headlines warning about the dangers of opioid addiction. But what happens when it affects you or someone you love? Suddenly, that headline hits a lot closer to home.

Make no mistake, opioid addiction can affect your life. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, opioid addiction takes 128 lives per day making it one of the most dangerous substances out there.

As a result, you'll need to make every second count when finding opioid addiction help. Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms of opioid abuse and find out how you can seek treatment to regain your life or loved one.

1Physical Symptoms

Opioid addiction can manifest in several startling physical symptoms, such as:

• Excessive or insufficient sleep
• Sudden weight loss
• Constant nausea
• Fatigue
• A slowed pulse

If that last symptom scared you, you're right to feel concerned. On average, you should have a heart rate of around 60 beats per minute. When one's heart rate is reduced, the body isn't able to receive a sufficient supply of blood.

Ultimately, a slowed pulse can lead to total heart failure.

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2Behavioral Symptoms

While the above symptoms are no doubt startling, there are as many, if not more, behavioral symptoms associated with an addiction to opioids.

Make sure to look out for the following signs of opiate addict behavior:

• Mood swings
• Depression
• Constant irritability
• Regular feelings of euphoria
• Poor impulse control or a lack of judgment

Over time, these symptoms can become drastically worse. Therefore, if you notice these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, it's crucial that you seek help as soon as possible.

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3How to Find Opioid Addiction Help

When looking for a treatment program, your best bet is to start with your local methadone clinic. But what is methadone, anyway, and what makes it such a great treatment option?

Methadone is a pain-relieving drug, not unlike morphine. Ironically, methadone is itself an opioid. However, research concludes that it is a viable treatment option, as it targets the same receptors in the brain as other opioids.

In a methadone clinic, doctors rely on methadone to slowly wean patients off of opioids. This is a much safer alternative to quitting cold turkey, as sudden withdrawal can cause severe and sometimes fatal side effects.

Methadone clinics also deploy a variety of treatment options aimed at helping patients better understand their addiction. These can include group and individual therapy sessions, as well as family therapy.

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4It's Never Too Late for a Fresh Start

Whether you're looking for opioid addiction help for yourself or for someone you love, please remember that it's not too late to turn things around. Opioid addiction may be difficult to beat, but you're strong enough to handle it.

Make sure to use the tools and tips listed above to aid you as you take back your life from opioids!

And don't forget to check back with our blog, where we're constantly updating our page with the freshest informative content designed to make your life better!

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