When seeking effective opioid treatment drugs in Dallas, it’s essential to choose a healthcare provider that specializes in addiction recovery and understands the complexity of opioid dependence. Dallas offers a range of medically supervised treatment options, including FDA-approved medications like buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone, designed to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. These treatment drugs, combined with personalized therapy and support groups, provide a comprehensive approach to opioid addiction recovery. Dallas’s leading addiction treatment centers are committed to offering compassionate care and innovative therapies to help individuals reclaim their lives from opioid dependence.
Opioid Addiction Facts
- In 2012, 259 million prescriptions for opioids were provided, which is more than enough to give each American adult a bottle of pills
- In 2017, 1.7 million people in the United States suffered from opioid abuse
- In the same year, 652,000 people were reported to suffer from heroin use disorder
- Close to 30% of people who are prescribed opioids for valid health reasons abuse the medication
- Up to 12% of those prescribed opioids develop a substance use disorder
- Up to 6% of those who use opioids will transition to heroin use
- 80% of heroin users report having used opioids first
What Happens When You Use Opioids?
Opiates are a class of drugs that are usually prescribed to treat pain or as anesthetics. These include medications like:
- Codeine
- Oxycodone
- Hydrocodone
- Tramadol
- Morphine
- Hydromorphone
- Carfentanil
- Fentanyl
Derived from opium poppy plant extracts, various medications, and heroin, an illegal, highly addictive Schedule I substance, are synthesized. In the U.S., stringent prescription opiate controls are inadvertently driving addicts towards heroin—a cheaper, potent alternative with no recognized medical use. Heroin, known for its abuse potential, manifests as a brown, white powder, or black tar, causing relaxation, sedation, and cognitive clouding. As the crackdown on prescription opiates intensifies, heroin’s prevalence as a dangerous substitute underscores the escalating drug abuse and the opioid addiction crisis. Some of the short-term effects of opioids may include:
- Drowsiness
- Coma
- Decreased respiration
- Nausea
- Unconsciousness
- Constipation
- Sedation
- Pain relief
The feeling of calm and numbness that results from the use of opioids may give a person a sense of a ‘rush.’ This initial high can be described as pleasant, while the subsequent crash might make a person feel sick and unwell. This stark contrast between the feelings of being on opioids and off of them ultimately drives individuals to keep taking the drug. In the long run, opioids can cause some if not all of the following long-term effects:
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
- Pain
- Cold flashes
- Psychosis
- Paranoia
- Increased tolerance
- Diarrhea
- Anxiety
Opioid use commonly leads to increased tolerance, where frequent users find it difficult to function without the drug, craving more to maintain its effects. Initially, opioids provide relief and comfort, but over time, their effectiveness diminishes, pushing users to increase doses, and risking overdose. Addiction often results in neglecting daily responsibilities and engaging in illegal activities, such as theft and fraud, to secure the next dose. This pattern highlights the complex challenges of opioid addiction, where the quest for relief transitions into a cycle of dependency and risky behaviors.
