Opiates/Pain Pills

Opiates are drugs that are derived from opium, which is a psychoactive drug found in the sap of the opium poppy. Opiates attach to pain receptors in the brain, causing both relief of physical pain, as well as euphoria when first used, and, if used over time, a way to cope with the difficulties of  life that abusers become dependent upon. Opiates are one class of drugs, together with benzodiazepines and alcohol, that people can develop and extreme physical dependence on as well as mental/psychological.

Opiates include the following drugs, listed in order of increasing strength or potency (weakest first):

  • Codeine (an ingredient in products including Tylenol 3 or 4 and some cough medicines)
  • Tramadol (trade names Rybix, Ryzolt, Ultram)
  • Anileridine (trade name Leritine)
  • Demerol
  • Hydrocodone (in many medications, usually combined with other drugs, e.g., with acetaminophen in Vicodin
  • Morphine
  • Oxycodone (trade name Oxycontin; also combined with acetominophen in Percocet) Oxycodone is also known on the street as “blues,” “oxy,” “roxy,” and “oxycotton.”
  • Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
  • Oxymorphone (Opana)
  • Levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran)
  • Buprenorphine (Suboxone, Subutex – used as an aid in withdrawal from opiates, although it has less potential for abuse, any opiate can be abused)
  • Fentanyl* (Fentora)

*Note: Fentanyl  is 500 – 1000 times stronger than codeine.

 

Opiates are legally prescribed as narcotics or pain pills. Some people can take opiates for a short time without becoming dependent on them, but it’s easy to become addicted to them. Sometimes people have had problems with other substance abuse, but some people experience dependence for the first time after using opiates for a prolonged period. This fact, in addition to the fact that they are prescribed legally by doctors, is dangerous because this will make it harder for the abuser to admit they have an addiction or any sort of problem whatsoever.

Since some doctors are aware of the potential for dangerous pain pill addictions and will not prescribe pills freely, it is common practice for opiate abusers or addicts to go to multiple doctors lying about symptoms in order to try to obtain these prescriptions again and again (known as “doctor shopping”). Also, addicts may illegally obtain pills off the street or through the internet, opening them up for criminal charges. Unfortunately, some doctors do not know the dangers and will prescribe pain pills repeatedly. Other doctors will even, for their own business purposes, operate their offices as what are known as “pill mills,” which, frankly, criminally encouraging addiction in entire areas. These are especially prominent in Florida.

Addicts can support their habit for a long time through any or all of these methods. The consequences of this are development of a tolerance to the opiates, causing people who abuse opiates to need more and more pills in order to feel the physical and mental effects. This is addiction.

Opiate pills are typically taken orally. However, it is also common for the user to dissolve the pills in water and inject the material into the bloodstream, causing faster and more intense effects. This is especially dangerous because the user will develop an addiction sooner, and has the potential for serious bacterial infections or, if needles are shared, will open themselves up for deadly diseases such as hepatitis or HIV.

When an addict tries to stop using opiates, they will undoubtedly experience extreme pain throughout the body, as well as other symptoms including sweating, nausea and vomiting. It is important for the addict to go through a medical detoxification; this will include taking medication to mitigate the symptoms of withdrawal. All of the opiate addiction treatment centers we work with have medical doctors on hand to monitor the detox.

An opiate addict almost always needs to attend an addiction rehabilitation facility in order to stop the addiction and begin recovery. The treatment usually lasts anywhere from 30 to 90 days or more. Recovery Hub works with the best treatment centers in the country in order to help the addict find the most appropriate program that will ensure the most comfortable detox while helping him or her learn tools in order to handle daily life without pills.

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