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Opioids ranging from illegal heroin to prescription oxycodone are highly addictive. If you can’t stop using one of these drugs, John Risi, NP, at New Spirit Health in Mesa, Arizona, can help. John is an addiction medicine specialist with expertise in using medications like buprenorphine to make opioid withdrawal less distressing. Call New Spirit Health or schedule a telehealth or in-person consultation online today and begin your journey to freedom from opioid addiction.

What is opioid addiction?

Opioid addiction is a substance use disorder that develops when you misuse opioid drugs. Opioids relieve pain and anxiety, numbing your mind and body and inducing euphoric feelings. 

Heroin is an illegal opioid, but many opioid drugs are prescription medicines used for moderate to severe pain, such as:

• Hydrocodone
• Oxymorphone
• Oxycodone
• Morphine
• Tramadol
• Fentanyl

The longer you take opioids, the less effective they are because your body becomes tolerant of them. You’re likely to use increasing quantities of opioids to achieve the same high. Eventually, you must take these drugs just to function.

Do I have an opioid addiction?

Many people find it hard to accept they have an opioid addiction, especially if they’re addicted to legal prescription medications. Common signs of opioid addiction include:

• Increased anxiety
• Depression
• Irritability
• Lack of interest in enjoyable activities
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Difficulties sleeping

People with long-term opioid addiction develop slurred speech and sensitivity to light and sound.

When you have an opioid addiction, you spend a lot of time, money, and energy getting your drugs. Using and recovering from opioid use takes up a large part of your day.

To assess opioid addiction, New Spirit Health asks about your drug habit, including how much you use, how often, and if you experience withdrawal symptoms when you don’t take the drug.

How is opioid addiction treated?

Withdrawal is a major barrier to overcoming opioid addiction. When you stop taking a drug you’re addicted to, it can cause a variety of problems, such as:

• Abdominal pain
• Cramping
• Severe fatigue
• Sweating
• Shaking
• Headaches
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Cravings

Managing withdrawal symptoms is key to recovery from opioid addiction. New Spirit Health uses medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to ease withdrawal and help you stop using.

MAT involves taking medications such as buprenorphine (Suboxone®). These medicines mimic some of the effects of opioids, so you don’t develop the cravings and intense reactions that typically occur if you stop taking your chosen drug.

Psychotherapy (talk therapy) is also important for recovery from opioid addiction. It can help you identify issues that make you more likely to develop an addiction and address them. You also learn essential coping techniques and develop valuable support networks.

Call New Spirit Health or book an appointment online today to benefit from expert opioid addiction treatment.