Opioids are a category of drugs that can occur naturally, can be semi-synthetic and entirely synthetically produced.
This includes both prescription drugs and substances that are illegal across most of the world.
The most well-known opioid in the latter category is heroin – one of the most notorious and dangerous substances available in the modern market – though this is only the peak of the deep iceberg that is addiction to opioids.
Opioids affect the opioid receptors in the brain, leading to a variety of different effects.
Some of these effects are used in the field of medicine for pain relief, whereas others are chased recreationally, often with little regard for the long-term and negative consequences that may arise as a result of this.
This blog post will explore opioids, both medicinally and recreationally, and suggest how best an individual can avoid an opioid overdose should they find themselves suffering from opioid addiction.
Though more and more medicinal opioids are appearing on the illegal market, [1] it is important to understand how opioids can be used for purposes other than recreation.
Prescribed opioids are often used to help relax the body in a number of different medical circumstances.
The most common of these are:
In general, opioids are prescribed for short-term effects in order to reduce the risks of developing an addiction.
However, in the cases where it may need to be prescribed for a longer period of time e.g., throughout cancer treatment, then it is vital that individuals are provided with addiction treatment services after their prescription is no longer needed.
As mentioned in the introduction, there are many different forms of opioids – natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic.
Naturally occurring opioids include painkillers such as morphine and codeine which are derived from the opium poppy, as well as Thebaine which has mild analgesic effects.
Semi-synthetic opioids include heroin (a morphine derivative), oxycodone (a strong painkiller) and buprenorphine, which is used in the treatment of opioid dependence as well as being prescribed as a painkiller.
Fully synthetic opioids include fentanyl, which is one of the strongest painkillers in the medical field, as well as methadone – another drug that is administered for opioid dependence and pain management – and tramadol.
Opioids have long been known to be some of the most addictive substances on the planet and this is primarily due to the physical dependence that these substances cause.
When a substance is physically addictive, the individual’s body will be directly impacted by the substance, leading to these substances becoming a part of the individual’s everyday functioning and processing.
Research has shown that this dependence happens at a cellular level, [2] meaning that the changes that the body experiences are long-term and challenging to overcome.
Physical addictions are the most dangerous type of addiction, as it often means that an individual will have to undergo a closely supervised and supported withdrawal process, as well as deal with opioid withdrawal symptoms for a long period of time.
When an individual is addicted, it means that their body is continuously craving the substance that they are addicted to and, when a substance is as addictive as opioids are, this can mean desiring to take more and more to gain stronger and stronger effects.
In serious cases, this can lead to an overdose i.e., when the body has so much of the substance that the body can no longer process it and begins to shut down.
This can lead to serious issues that can threaten an individual’s life and often take a long time to treat and overcome in a safe manner.
Overdoses are tragically common amongst opioid users, as opioids are one of the most addictive substances known to us with some of the most dangerous side-effects, meaning that individuals are likely to seek higher quantities of the substance than their body can process.
In most cases of an opioid overdose, an individual is already addicted, meaning that this addiction is generally the first factor to be treated when trying to avoid an overdose – then treating the cause of the addiction is most effective.
This can be done in several different ways, but it is important to note that addiction recovery is far less effective if the individual feels forced into it.
Having an individual’s full commitment and a positive attitude is one of the most important things to consider in addiction recovery.
To expand, three common approaches to avoiding opioid overdose are explored below:
If an individual is resistant to the thought of recovering from an opioid addiction, or if they are in denial about their situation, then it may be suitable for these individuals to partake in an intervention to try and encourage them to seek further support.
In general, interventions take place with the presence of a counsellor or therapist who will help to mediate the conversation – and it should be a conversation.
Close friends and family of the individual struggling with opioid addiction should present their feelings and experiences of their loved ones’ addiction in a respectful and non-confrontational manner.
This will help the individual struggling to consider how their addiction may be impacting their relationships, as well as how it is impacting themselves.
Studies have shown that when individuals partake in an intervention with family, for example, they have a greater positive potential for entering treatment and general drug addiction rehabilitation. [3]
As a general concept, those who enter some form of drug or specific opioid rehabilitation programme are far less likely to overdose than those who are not enrolled in this type of care service.
Rehabilitation comes in many different forms, with many different treatment options for all different cases of addiction.
For example, an individual may choose to reside with a residential rehab centre as an inpatient, but they may also choose to attend rehab as an outpatient while continuing to live at home or in their local area.
In general, when treating opioid addictions it is always recommended for individuals to enter residential rehabilitation, as the different stages of recovery for opioid addictions often require constant supervision, support and medical intervention.
Residential rehabilitation is, again, not suitable for every case, but it is the first thing that individuals struggling with an opioid addiction should consider when beginning their recovery journey.
In extreme cases, it may be suitable for individuals struggling with opioid addiction to receive some form of medical intervention to prevent an overdose.
This medical intervention often involves the prescription of other substances to alleviate the negative physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal and to help an individual transition away from opioids entirely and move towards sobriety.
The main issue with medical interventions for opioid addictions and overdoses is that other opioids are often prescribed as a transitional substance for the individual, but these substances in themselves will also require withdrawal in the future.
For example, if an individual is addicted to heroin, substances such as buprenorphine and methadone are often prescribed as a ‘halfway substance.’
However, as mentioned previously, these substances are also categorised as opioids and will therefore have to be monitored and tapered away from in a safe, supported, and effective manner.
As can be seen from the subheadings above, there are many factors that make an opioid rehabilitation journey significantly different from other forms of rehabilitation.
Though some similarities are shared between an opioid rehab programme and an alcohol rehab programme, for example, there are still many unique precautions and measures that must be taken specifically for an opioid recovery journey.
Individuals should always discuss this with a medical professional before committing to any one form of treatment.
In any case, opioid addiction should be treated as soon as possible due to the dangers that can come with leaving this form of addiction untreated.
However, it is also important not to rush this process or be discouraged by slow progress, as working through each stage one by one and gaining the full benefits from each will provide the individual with the best possible chance at a full and effective recovery.
To speak to a member of Rehab 4 Addiction’s friendly and professional team, call our addiction support line on 0800 140 4690 today to get free and confidential advice regarding treatment for opioid addiction.
We offer advice and support on all different addictions – to opioids, other substances and even behavioural addictions – so no matter how serious or trivial you may believe your struggles with addiction to be, please do not hesitate to give us a call today and find out how we can help you.
Every drug and alcohol rehab facility we recommend is vetted by the Care Quality Commission (England and Wales) or the Care Inspectorate (Scotland).
Don’t take the risk of an opioid overdose – beat addiction once and for all by reaching out for help today.
[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2939200/
[2]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022356524295057
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
