The dependence of opioids is more common than is discussed. Women and men of all races, ethnicities, educational levels, and ages are susceptible to opioids. No specific group of people, gender or age is protected from opioid dependence.
What is Opioid Dependence?
An opioid is a drug that is either created from opium, or is chemically related to opium. Some prescription pain medications are opioids (hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, codeine). Heroin is also an opioid. Someone is considered opioid dependent when repeated opioid use is needed to avoid feeling bad and this use continues even when it causes negative effects on the user.
Any type of drug use usually begins as a choice but frequent use can catapult into addiction by causing the brain to think that the drug is necessary to exist. Many drugs, opioids included, cause changes in the brain that can cause cravings for years after the drug usage is discontinued. Opioids attach themselves to opioid receptors (specific places where molecules of opioid drugs or medications attach and begin to exert their effect) in the brain. This stimulates the release of dopamine (a naturally occurring chemical that helps cause feelings of pleasure). Eventually the opioid detaches from the receptors and causes cravings and withdrawal, making the user want to experience the feeling again.
Common Characteristics of opioid dependence may include:
- Tolerance of the opioid
- Withdrawal symptoms when the opioid isn't taken (symptoms including extreme nausea, generalized pain, headache, sweating, shaking, irritability)
- Taking larger amounts than prescribed or planned for, and for longer amounts of time
- A constant desire to quit
- Unsuccessful attempts to quit
- Withdrawal from social and recreational activities
How Can Opioid Dependence Affect Someone?
The need to avoid withdrawal and appease cravings can be so intense that it can cause someone to do something he wouldn't ordinarily do to obtain more of the drug or similar ones. People who want to discontinue the use of opioids usually find it to be extremely difficult. For these reasons, opioid dependence can affect one's behavior.
Substances and medications that produce a pleasurable feeling or a feeling of being "high," are more likely to cause dependence. Substance abuse is often influenced by peer pressure and trends in society. The specific causes of opioid dependence vary for each person and may include genetics and the specific individual's environment as potential factors. Also, individuals have different absorption levels of the drug into the body's bloodstream causing different effects.
Even when used as prescribed, medications for postoperative, acute and chronic pain can cause feelings of withdrawal and tolerance. Tolerance (needing more of a drug to get the same amount of relief for pain) does not mean that a patient is dependent, but is associated with physical dependence. With physical dependence a counteractive physiological effect takes place when blood and/or tissue concentrations of a drug decline (withdrawal). Psychological dependence is when a person continues to use a drug for reasons other than withdrawal or tolerance, for example, so that the individual can experience a drugs pleasurable effects.
What can be Done About Opium Dependence?
If an opium dependent individual would like to discontinue the use of the drug, and break his addiction, he can talk to his doctor to get help. The patient's doctor can often prescribe an opioid medication or refer him to someone else if he isn't certified. An opium dependent individual can also seek information from the local hospital or mental health center.
(Please note that this article is for educational purposes only. For further information or questions contact your Primary Care Physician or any other health care professional.)
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