About opioids
Opioids are a kind of medication that is prescribed for their analgesic and pain relieving properties. Morphines like Kadian, Avinza, Codeine, and oxycodone are all opioids. The reason morphine is administered to a person is to relieve a person from severe pain pre or post surgery. Drugs like codeine, lomotil are used to relieve mild pain and also to give relief from cough or diarrhea.
Effect of opioids on the brain and body
The human body has certain proteins called opioids receptors. These are found in the brain, spinal cord and the gastrointestinal tract. The way opioids react is they attach them selves to these opioids receptors, and this is what helps in obstructing the pain. Opioids also induce a feeling of ecstasy or pleasure. This happens especially when opioids are taken in ways other than those that are recommended, they can be snorted or injected and though this increases the feeling of pleasure it can also be dangerous and harmful, often causing overdose.
Opioid abuse
If opioids are taken as per the instructions or prescription of doctors then they do not cause any harm or risk for addiction and they certainly help in relieving pain. What happens when a person becomes addicted to opioids then there is a risk of the body becoming drug tolerant. And if the person tries to go off the drug, then he/she will experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms are restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes and involuntary muscle movement in joints and limbs. In case of an overdose of opioids there could be serious harm to the respiratory system, which could also prove fatal.
Opioids should never be used with any other drugs except under extreme care of a physician. They should under any circumstances never be used with substances like alcohol, anesthetics, antihistamines or benzodiazepines as this can lead to sever respiratory problems.
Treatment
There are several ways in which drug addiction or even alcoholism can be treated. There are inpatient drug facilities or drug rehabilitation centers where a person is admitted for recovery. For drugs like opiates, certain outpatient drug treatment programs are very efficient.
The outpatient drug treatment program begins with a visit to a physician. This is normally done at the office of the program center or at the home of the patient. This physician’s visit includes a complete examination and interview. What is important in this treatment is the administration of suboxone. So after the initial interview the first dose of suboxone may be given. The first 72 hours are very important and the patient should be closely monitored. It would also be beneficial if during that time the patient were away from his/her usual environment and family. This is to give a sort of respite to the family from the recovering patient.
Over the next month of the treatment it is recommended that the patient be in constant touch through email or telephone for his/her medication or any other concerns regarding the treatment. This is the time when the patient is withdrawn from suboxone. New medication is normally delivered to the house of the patient.
Rehabilitation for the psyche is an important part of an outpatient treatment program. This can be done through sessions in person with a psychologist or over the telephone. The main reason for rehabilitation of the psyche is to avoid a relapse. This is extremely important for the patients of an outpatient treatment program.
The drug abuse should be identified in time and treated before the condition worsens. The patient needs to be closely monitored and handled with a lot of love and care for prompt recovery.
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Information on this page last updated on 10/16/2007