When opioids are taken as directed, in small amounts, for short periods of time, they are not likely to lead to addiction. Unfortunately, this is not always how people use opioids. At Cottonwood, in Tucson, Arizona, we treat substance use disorders, and we want you to be able to identify the signs that someone you love could be misusing opioid drugs.
What are Opioids?
Opioids are a class of drugs that include natural, synthetic, and semi-synthetic substances. Opiates are natural opioids derived from the opium poppy plant. Opioids are highly addictive and have been the cause of most overdose deaths in recent years. Opioids may be legally prescribed for legitimate medical issues, or they may be obtained illegally. Some examples of opioids include:
- Oxycodone (OxyContin)
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
- Morphine
- Codeine
- Fentanyl
- Heroin
Opioids differ in their potency, and the less potent versions are sometimes laced with fentanyl, a much stronger opioid, which is one of the things that can make them particularly dangerous. If an individual takes what they think is a less dangerous opioid, but it contains or has been replaced by fentanyl, they are much more likely to overdose. One high-profile example of this occurring was in the death of Prince, a famous musician who died from a fentanyl overdose in 2016, after telling people close to him that he was taking Vicodin.
Risks Associated with Opioids
Even when someone is prescribed opioids and takes them as directed, they still carry certain health risks, which include:
- Poor immune system functioning
- Constipation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Sleep disturbances
- Cardiovascular changes
- Decreased heart rate
- Dangerously low blood pressure
- Heart failure
- Cardiac arrest
- Increased sensitivity to pain
- Sexual dysfunction
The risks of a person experiencing these issues increase if the person takes more than prescribed or uses opioids for a long time, so these health issues could be one of the indicators that someone is misusing opioids.
Other Indicators of Opioid Misuse
Even if you are not aware of any of the health struggles listed above, you might have reason to suspect that a friend or family member is misusing opioids if you notice these signs:
- Taking the opioid in ways that the prescriber didn’t intend
- Higher doses
- Greater frequency
- For a longer duration
- Taking the opioid when they are not actually in pain
- Shaping their day around getting and taking opioids
- Big mood swings
- Acquiring extra meds by
- Falsely saying they lost pills to get more prescribed
- Seeing multiple providers to try to get more than one doctor to give them prescriptions
- Taking pills from other people
- Getting opioids from a dealer
- Decreased ability to make good decisions, which could result in legal or financial problems
People Most at Risk for Opioid Use Disorder
Addiction doesn’t discriminate. Anyone can develop a substance use disorder. There are some people, however, who are at especially high risk. This includes people who are:
- Younger, particularly in their teens or early 20s
- From a family with substance use issues
- Under a lot of stress
- Struggling with problems
- At work
- With family
- With friends
- At school
- Dealing with mental illness, particularly
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Survivors of sexual or physical abuse
- Prone to thrill-seeking behavior
- Heavy users of tobacco products
Signs of Opioid Overdose
Opioids work on the same part of the brain that regulates breathing and heart rate, so a person who is overdosing will likely have
- A decreased heart rate
- Slowed breathing
- An inability to wake up
- Tiny pupils
- Lips and/or skin that are discolored from lack of oxygen.
People are more likely to overdose if they
- Are older
- Inject opioids
- Have stopped taking opioids and then resumed use
- Mix opioids with alcohol or other substances
- Have medical conditions such as
- HIV
- Lung diseases
- Liver problems
- Mental health concerns
How to Respond to an Opioid Overdose
If you suspect someone is overdosing from opioids, taking these steps could save their life:
- Call 911 immediately
- Administer naloxone (Narcan), if available
- Try to keep the person awake and breathing
- Lay them on their side to prevent choking
- Stay with them until help arrives
At Cottonwood, we treat various substance use disorders, including opioid addiction. We take a holistic approach that addresses the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of a person facing addiction. This includes offering integrated mental health and substance use treatment for people who struggle with dual diagnoses and utilizing physical wellness, expressive arts groups, and nutrition to promote recovery alongside medical detox, individual and group therapy, 12-step meetings, family counseling, and relapse prevention.
