Opiate Addiction

 

Opiate addiction occurs when narcotic drugs which are derived from the opium poppy are abused. These drugs produce a euphoric effect, and this is one of the most common reasons for their abuse. In many cases an opiate addiction starts with an illness or injury. The doctor prescribes pain medication that is opiate based, to relieve pain and discomfort. Over time as the medication is taken you start to develop a tolerance, and the drug does not work as well. You take more than what is prescribed in an effort to get the same effect, and your tolerance for the drug increases even more leading to an opiate addiction.

 

An opiate addiction can have severe and even devastating consequences. Opiate drugs depress your respiration, causing your breathing to become shallow and slow, and possibly stop in some situations. These drugs can be found under a wide range of names, such as codeine, morphine, and many others. Opiate addiction causes many health problems and medical complications, and one of the most serious of these is an overdose and death. Another concern with opiate addiction is that these drugs are commonly mixed with alcohol or other drugs, which can greatly intensify the effects of the opiate.

 

Initially with an opiate addiction the drug is normally swallowed in the pill form. As the opiate addiction worsens the drug may be crushed and snorted by the user, in an attempt to get the effects of the drug faster. In severe cases the drug use can progress to the point where the user is crushing the pill, mixing the resulting powder, and using a hypodermic needle to inject the mixture into a vein. Opiate addiction progresses over time, and it will devastate your life if it is not treated successfully. Whether the problem started as an injury or because of recreational use, it is one that will not go away unless it is effectively addressed.

 

If you or someone you know suffers from an opiate addiction you do not have to continue in the same way. There are treatment programs that do work, and that can give you control over your life back. If you suffer from an addiction, whether it is an opiate addiction or any other type, Valiant Recovery can help. We offer a program which is highly successful, and that can help your reach your goals of a lasting recovery and permanent cure. Take the first step to see what help is available to you for your addiction.