Opiate Addiction in Eagle Pass, TX
Opiate addiction in Eagle Pass is an increasing public health concern. A growing number of people are addicted to and even dying from opiate addiction across the state of Texas.
It's common for many people to associate opiate addiction in Eagle Pass with abusing illicit street drugs like heroin. However, while the number of people seeking our programs for addiction treatment in Eagle Pass for heroin addiction is high, the number of people needing treatment for addiction to prescription opiate painkiller medications is higher.
A report released by the University of Texas showed that statistics gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate the number of fatal opiate overdose deaths in the state has increased dramatically in the past 10 years.
While the number of deaths caused by heroin overdose has increased significantly in the past 5 years alone, the sheer number of fatal overdoses caused by prescription opiate painkiller medications and other synthetic opiate drugs is far higher. Reports show that people overdose on opiate medications such as morphine, fentanyl, pethidine, oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Percocet or Vicodin), or methadone.
What is Opiate Addiction?
Using any opiate drug for any length of time can cause some changes within the brain's chemistry. Opiates act directly on the brain's opioid receptors, forming an artificial trigger for the body to release a flood of dopamine and other hormones and neurotransmitters.
Continued use of opiates causes the brain's receptors to believe it's unable to produce hormones and neurotransmitters that are usually naturally-occurring. As a result, the person feels intense urges, or cravings to take more of the drug in order for the body to release those same hormones in order to feel normal.
When the person stops taking opiates suddenly, the brain can't adapt. The lack of naturally-occurring hormones and neurotransmitters in the system causes the user to experience horribly unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
In an effort to avoid the onset of symptoms, many users will continue taking the drug. At this point the user is considered dependent, or addicted.
Opiate Effects: Why are Opiates so Addictive?
Opiates are intended to interfere with the brain's normal communication pathways so that it is less responsive to pain. When treating patients for acute pain following a surgical procedure or people suffering with chronic pain, the medication is useful.
However, abusing opiate drugs for the sake of getting ‘high' or ‘stoned' increases the risk of developing an addiction to the substance.
How Are Opiates Used?
Many people are familiar with the stereotyped image of a heroin addict injecting a dissolved solution of heroin and water directly into their veins. However, users may also snort heroin through the nostrils in a similar way to cocaine users.
Opiate drugs may also be available as prescription painkiller medications prescribed by a doctor. When taken to treat acute or chronic pain, opiate painkillers are just fine. However, when they're taken for recreational purposes or in any way other than the doctor prescribed, there is an increased risk of developing an addiction to the drugs.
Prescription opiate medications are most commonly taken in pill form. Some types of opiate medications, such as morphine or pethidine (Demerol) may be administered intravenously.
Opiate Addiction Signs and Symptoms
There are some common signs and symptoms of opiate addiction in Eagle Pass to watch for. These include:
- Cravings: Intense urges to take more opiate drugs are known as cravings.
- Loss of control: A person in the grip of addiction may lose control over the amount of drug being used and the frequency of use.
- Tolerance: Taking any opiate drug over a period of time can cause the person to develop tolerance to the substance. The person needs to take higher doses to achieve the same effects.
- Withdrawal symptoms: When use of the substance stops suddenly, unpleasant symptoms of drug and alcohol withdrawal in Eagle Pass can emerge.
- Physical dependency: A person who continues taking opiate drugs in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms or just to continue feeling normal is considered physically dependent, or addicted.
Treating Opiate Addiction
Treating opiate addiction in Eagle Pass requires specialist care in a drug and alcohol treatment center. In most cases, treatment for drug addiction involves administering prescription replacement medications, such as methadone or Suboxone to replace the drug of addiction. However, a person at increased risk of overdose may be given naltrexone to counteract the effects of the drug being taken.
The person is required to check in with addiction specialists at a drug rehab facility each day to continue receiving doses of the replacement medication. Over a period of time the dosage of medication is tapered down until the dose stops. By the end of drug rehab treatments, the person should be free from both drugs.
Another critical aspect in treating opiate addiction in Eagle Pass is integrating a range of behavioral therapies and counseling sessions. Therapy at a drug and alcohol treatment center works to identify and address the underlying psychological triggers behind addictive substance use.
The recovering person is also taught healthy new ways of coping with life without the need for drugs. A prominent aspect of therapy is teaching the recovering person strong relapse prevention strategies designed to help them avoid high-risk situations and recognize early warning signs of a potential relapse.
The key to making a full recovery from opiate addiction is to reach out and seek help from a drug addiction treatment center. Without specialized treatments, a recovering person is at risk of relapsing back into self-destructive patterns of behavior, which also increases the risk of accidental overdose. Call us now at (877) 804-1531.