Opiate Addiction in Mayfield Heights, OH
Opiates are medications that activate the body's opiate receptors, which are responsible for relieving pain and can also produce a euphoric effect in a person's brain. Examples of opiates include morphine, oxycodone, Dilaudid, fentanyl, or hydrocodone. Heroin is an illegal drug that is an opiate as well. Unfortunately, these medications are highly addictive, and there are many people who suffer from opiate addiction in Mayfield Heights, OH.
In 2010, an estimated 1,544 people died due to overdose in Ohio, according to the Department of Alcohol & Drug Addiction Services. Of these individuals, an estimated 63 percent died from opiate-related overdoses. While prescriptions are not equal to drug addiction, an estimated 51.6 doses of prescription opioids are prescribed per capita in Cuyahoga County. Unfortunately, these opiates are highly addictive and can lead to further addictions, including an addiction to heroin because this drug is more easily available on the street than prescription medications tend to be.
When a person suffers from opiate addiction in Mayfield Heights, OH, they may have difficulty quitting abusing the medication without participating in a drug intervention in Mayfield Heights. At an opiate addiction treatment center, a person can receive treatments, including prescribing medications that have been shown to help a person overcome an addiction to opiates.
Dangers of Opiate Addiction in Mayfield Heights, OH
According to Cleveland.com, there are an estimated 200,000 people in Ohio addicted to opiates. This is enough people to make up a city that is roughly the size of Akron. An estimated five people die in Ohio on a daily basis due to overdose from opioid abuse. Unfortunately, opiate addiction in Ohio has many victims, including innocent children. An estimated 4,000 babies were treated across the state over an 18-month period due to neonatal abstinence syndrome, a condition that occurs when a baby's mother suffers from opiate addiction. The baby will experience withdrawal substances that can be similar to an adult withdrawing from the process of medical detox in Mayfield Heights.
Opiate addiction affects those in Mayfield Heights and in America as a whole. America is the largest consumer of prescription painkillers, and Americans take nearly 100 percent of the world's hydrocodone. An estimated 207 million prescriptions for opiates are written in the United States on a regular basis.
Those who abuse opiates often do so by taking excess amounts of opiates or using them in a manner other than they were intended to be. Examples may be crushing and snorting the pills or crushing them and injecting the powder. This floods the brain with more of the opiate than was ever intended. While the result may be a euphoric feeling, this flooding of chemicals can cause a person to stop breathing entirely. As a result, their brain does not get enough oxygen. This can result in death, coma, or affected body functioning.
Opiate Addiction Signs and Symptoms
When a person repeatedly takes opiates, their brain becomes addicted to the sensation a person may feel when using the drug. This can cause a person to crave the drug and even build up a tolerance to the opiate. As a result, thy may have to start using more and more of the drug in order to experience the same sensation.
Signs a person may suffer from opiate addiction in Mayfield Heights, OH include:
- Lack of coordination
- Depression
- Drowsiness
- Euphoria
- Irritability
- Problems with work, school, relationships, and/or finances
- Mood swings
- Unexplained agitation
- Slurred speech
- Depression
- Affected motivation
A person may experience erratic behavior that is out of the ordinary for them. They may be secretive or paranoid, and may even resort to stealing prescriptions, valuables, or money from loved ones to support their habit.
Opiate addiction recovery can help a person stop abusing opiates for good. Techniques can include slowly tapering drug dosages or taking medications that can reduce the withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping opioid abuse. Examples of these medications include methadone and Suboxone. These medications can activate opiate receptors without creating the same euphoric feeling. This allows a person to work on reducing the mental health addiction a person may have to opiates.
While opiate addiction rehab may not be easy, it can be a life-saving intervention for a person who suffers from opiate addiction. By getting professional help, a person can navigate the symptoms of opiate withdrawal, which include nausea, shaking, difficulty sleeping, and muscle cramping. Opiate addiction recovery can also include relapse prevention programs, such as participating in Narcotics Anonymous meetings or individual counseling sessions. Call us now at (877) 804-1531.