Opioid Replacement Therapy – When & Where to Seek Help

Opioid addiction is a very serious condition that often occurs after a patient is put on prescription painkillers or forms a habit from using street drugs. In the United States alone, over 2 million people have become addicted to opioids, sometimes with devastating results for themselves and their families. As doctors continue to prescribe opioids to their patients, the issue of addiction becomes ever more serious – with an average of over 130 opioid overdose deaths in the US every single day. By far the best method of breaking such an addiction is through opioid replacement therapy.

Opioid Abuse and Its Effects

Although symptoms of addiction may vary from person to person, opioids generally cause similar behavioural effects as other addictive substances. These include the user’s inability to stop taking the drug, or inability to stop themselves from taking more than the recommended or prescribed amount.

Common Symptoms of an Opioid Addiction Include:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Constipation
• Poor coordination
• Dramatic mood swings
• Disrupted sleep patterns
• Fatigue
• Slurred speech
• Anxiety attacks

It is also essential to recognise the signs of an overdose, in order to get medical attention as quickly as possible if the need should arise. Overdose symptoms include the following:

• Loss of consciousness
• Being unresponsive when efforts are made to awaken them
• Slow, irregular breathing
• Slow, irregular pulse
• Vomiting
• Constricted (small) pupils in the eyes

If you notice someone with these overdose symptoms, contact emergency services immediately.

Understanding Opioid Addiction

Oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), codeine, morphine, fentanyl and several illegal drugs – including opium and heroin – are classed as opioids. They work by binding to specific receptors in the brain, spinal cord and other parts of the body, and activating them. By causing the release of dopamine in the brain, some types of opioids cause a chemical high that can be intoxicating. Once a habit is formed, the body can experience strong drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms if those cravings are not satisfied.

At the same time, the physiological changes associated with opioid use can cause an addictive habit to form rapidly. The body actually becomes dependent on the drug, making efforts to quit ‘cold turkey’ much more likely to fail. Severe withdrawal symptoms and a high probability of relapse mean that independent efforts to quit are usually misguided. For a greater chance at success, a more structured treatment plan at an opioid rehab centre may be needed.

Making the Transition: Opioid Substitution Therapy

Drugs such as methadone and buprenorphine function in much the same way as harmful opioids, but without causing the rollercoaster effect of high highs and low lows that other opioids create. They also last longer, eliminating cravings by functioning in a way analogous to nicotine patches for cigarette smokers.

Rather than simply ‘substituting one drug for another,’ the transition to methadone or buprenorphine represents a huge step in the right direction for patients. A new and productive life suddenly becomes possible again as a result of the mediating effect that these opioid substitutes offer – along with dramatic improvements in terms of health, safety, and mentality.

Selecting the right drug for opioid maintenance therapy is an important step in the process, and requires a thorough consultation with a qualified doctor. There are subtle differences between methadone and buprenorphine which can lead to significant effects if the patient has an underlying mental health issue.

By providing chemical and emotional stability, this form of opioid maintenance therapy allows the patient to be monitored effectively by doctors, turning an otherwise serious addiction into a manageable state of affairs.