In the United States, around 90 people are killed as a result of an opioid overdose every day. The problem has affected communities throughout the United States and has hurt thousands of family and friends of victims. With every part of the country hit by this epidemic of opioid use and overdose, there may still be people who are not aware exactly what opioids are.
Opioids are a type of drug that can be derived naturally from a poppy plant or synthetically in a laboratory. Some types are illegal, such as heroin. Other types are legal, such as prescription painkillers including hydrocodone. Often, someone will be prescribed a legal opioid after an injury or a routine surgery like wisdom tooth removal. When they have been prescribed these drugs, people can often become addicted. When it is too difficult to sustain their habit with expensive prescription painkillers, they may turn to cheaper opioids that are available on the streets, like heroin.
There are three main types of opioids:
- Natural opioids – This type of opioid includes morphine and codeine. It is derived from the opium poppy.
- Semi-synthetic opioids – This type of opioid includes hydrocodone, oxycodone, and heroin. They are derived from natural opiates in a laboratory setting.
- Synthetic opioids – this type of opioid includes fentanyl and methadone. It is completely unnaturally derived in a laboratory setting.
These types of opioids can be administered in several different ways. The drug can be delivered in pill form, through an IV, as a lozenge, or as a patch.
While many opioids can effectively treat pain, it is essential to take them under the supervision of a medical professional. The risk of addiction is extremely high with any opioid, whether it is legal to use or not. However, if you follow the orders of your doctor, as well as the directions included with your prescription, you should be able to prevent opioid addiction.
If you are using these drugs to treat pain, there may be other options, as well. You can lower the number of opioids you need to use by combining their use with other painkillers. This can improve your pain management without increasing the number of opioids you need to use. There may also be non-drug therapies that are effective in treating your pain, such as massage or acupuncture.
If you have become addicted to any opioids, Asana Recovery can help. We understand the difficulty of facing an opioid addiction and trying to overcome this problem. It takes the support of a great team for an individual to battle addiction.
Asana Recovery provides people with addiction issues with supervised detoxification and residential treatment programs. These treatments are offered in a supportive, relaxing, and inspiring environment that will help people build the skills they need to lead a healthier life after treatment. Our program will help those suffering from addiction to stay successful in recovery for the years to come. Call us at (949) 438-4504 to discuss the treatment options that are available to help you overcome your addiction.
