Opiate Dependence

Opiates are a class of drugs that include both synthetic and natural opiates. These drugs are highly dangerous and highly addictive both physically and psychologically.  Opiate dependence often results from either the prescribed use of opiate or the recreational use of these drugs.  No individual who uses opiates either recreationally or as prescribed is off the hook of potentially becoming addicted to these dangerous drugs.

A dependence on opiates can lead to addiction.

Opiate dependence can result in a range of physical and psychological symptoms that are both difficult to cope with and difficult to treat.  Below is a look at the symptoms of opiate dependence:

Tolerance:  The first and foremost symptoms of opiate dependence is tolerance.  Tolerance is the body’s way of telling an addict that there is a problem developing.  When an individual must use more of a drug over time in order to produce the same or similar effects a tolerance is developing.  Tolerance to opiates is what leads to physical dependence.

Withdrawal:  If you’ve developed a tolerance to an opiate, chances are you’ve also felt opiate withdrawal when you no longer have access to the drug or if you don’t take enough.  Withdrawal is the body’s way of saying “hey, I need more of this, I want more of this.”  Withdrawal symptoms include many adverse reactions such as nausea, vomiting, bone or muscle pain and cold sweats.  Many addicts use opiates in an effort to not feel the withdrawal symptoms that come when they don’t use the drug.

Lack of Control:  If you tell yourself or someone you love that you will only use a particular amount of opiates, and then you consistently use more than you said you would, you’re exhibiting a lack of control.  Opiate dependence often results in a lack of control by which the user will consistently use more and more of an opiate despite their goal or plan not to.

Wasting Time on Opiates:  As opiate dependence progresses, the user will spend more and more time on opiates.  This may be time trying to find the drug, time trying to come up with money to buy the drug or time just using the drug.  When time is not spent on one of these situations, the time is spent thinking or fantasizing about the next dose.  Thus, a lot of time is wasted on opiate dependence.

Becoming a Danger to One’s Self:  Those who suffer from opiate dependence are more likely to become depressed and to cause detrimental problems to their own well-being.  Opiate dependence can result in lack of caring about one’s physical or psychological well-being and can cause an individual to become a danger to themselves as well as to others.