Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSignsEffectsDangersTreatmentPreventionOpioid Overdose CrisisFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Signs
Effects
Dangers
Treatment
Prevention
Opioid Overdose Crisis
Frequently Asked Questions
Opioids may also consist of street drugs, such as heroin or synthetic fentanyl.
When opioids are misused, and taken in doses or frequencies higher than they are prescribed for, there is a potential for opioid abuse andaddiction.
Opioid abuse is also calledopioid use disorder. It is a disorder in which someone is misusing opioids to the point where it is becoming difficult for them to be able to stop using them or decrease their use. The abuse can interfere with the person’s ability to perform everyday tasks, like go to work or school.
This article will review the signs of opioid abuse, the effects and dangers it can cause, as well as how it can be treated and prevented.
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Abuse of Prescribed Opioids
When pharmaceutical companies in the 1990s told prescribers that their opioid pain medications were not addictive, more prescribers began using them for their patients.
As time went on, it became clear that these medications were causing opioid abuse and putting patients at risk. This then led to people looking for stronger doses of medication, with an increase in opioid overdoses.
The opioid crisis in the United States places a significant burden on the physical and financial health of the country. It is estimated that almost $80 billion is associated with this epidemic each year due to lost wages, healthcare expenses, and involvement in the criminal justice system.
Substance Use Disorders: Types, Symptoms, and Treatments
Signs of Opioid Abuse
Some of the signs of opioid abuse can include:
The abuse of opioids can have long-lasting effects on someone’s health, possibly even resulting in death. Someone living with opioid abuse may be in overall poor health.
Often, symptoms or problems are neglected, and regular health maintenance, such as checkups, colonoscopies, mammograms, etc., are not done. Opioids can also cause problems to the organs in the body, including the brain, bowels, heart, lungs, and bones.
Brain
Opioid abuse can cause the brain and body to become overly sensitive to pain. This often happens when someone is trying to cut back or quit using these medications.
Bowels
Frequent use of opioids can lead to severeconstipation, which could potentially result in an obstruction, or blockage, in the intestines. Opioid use can also cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Heart
Regular use of opioids has been associated with the development of heart problems includingheart failure(the heart is unable to pump enough blood for the body’s needs) or heart attack (blocked blood flow results in damage to the heart muscle).
How to Recognize and Treat Opioid Abuse Before It’s Too Late
Lungs
Opioids can slow the respiratory system, potentially leading to respiratory failure. It can also cause problems such as sleep apnea (periods of low oxygen during sleep).
Respiratory Depression: Drug and Nondrug Causes of Symptoms
Bones
An increased risk for bone fractures has been found to occur in people with opioid abuse. This could be due to some weakening of the bones or also because people who abuse opioids may be at an increased risk of falling.
Opioid abuse can lead to overdose. If too much of an opioid is taken, a person’s respiratory drive becomes severely diminished. This can lead to very shallow breathing or may even cause someone to stop breathing altogether.
An overdose of opioids is a medical emergency. Signs of an overdose may include:
What to Do If Someone OverdosesAn opioid overdose is a life-threatening medical emergency. If you come upon someone who has overdosed, call 911 immediately.
What to Do If Someone Overdoses
An opioid overdose is a life-threatening medical emergency. If you come upon someone who has overdosed, call 911 immediately.
The first step in treating opioid abuse is someone recognizing that they have a problem and wants to quit using drugs. Sometimes this occurs as a result of a medical emergency from drug use. Other times this can come from discussions with concerned family and friends.
Medications may be effective at treating opioid abuse. The medications methadone andbuprenorphinecan be used to help reduce the cravings for opioids and prevent withdrawals. They must be given in combination with talk therapy and their dose is decreased over time.
Another medication,naltrexone, blocks the effects of opioids so that they don’t provide any type of high or pleasurable feeling. This medication is usually taken once a day.
In addition to medical therapy, there are multiple behavior-focused therapies that may be used along with or following medications. These therapies can include:
How to Overcome Drug Addiction
There are things that can be done if there is concern about someone abusing opioids. If someone is prescribed opioids, the tips below are some of the ways to stay safe and prevent abuse.
The Opioid Overdose Crisis
Unfortunately the number of people experiencing an overdose of opioids is significant. In 2017, opioid abuse was officially named a public health crisis. The number who died of an overdose of opioids in the 12 months ending in April 2021 was estimated to be over 75,000.
There is an increased number of people misusing prescription pain medications and moving on to other drugs such as fentanyl or heroin.
Summary
Opioid abuse in the United States is a significant problem. The overprescribing of prescription pain medications can lead to misuse and abuse of these medications. Opioid abuse can lead to many long-term health problems and even death.
Prevention of opioid abuse is important so this doesn’t become an issue. Treatment options such as medications, therapy, and rehabilitation are available for those who are looking to quit.
A Word From Verywell
If you have been prescribed opioid medications for pain control, it is very important to take them only as directed and not share them with anyone else. If you’re no longer experiencing pain, contact your local pharmacy for the safest way to dispose of your medication.
Having an opioid addiction or loving someone who does can be scary and stressful. Treatment options are available to help quit abusing drugs, but it requires wanting to quit and having a good support system.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThere is no one known cause of opioid abuse. There have been some genetic factors that are associated with an increased risk of developing abuse. Other causes may include previous drug or alcohol abuse, history of depression or other psychiatric disorder, or history of abuse.The use of opioid prescriptions has led to an increase in those who abuse opioids. Pharmaceutical companies told prescribers that the use of opioid medications would not cause addiction. Unfortunately, that was not the case, and many people who are prescribed opioids can become addicted.In the 12 months ending in April 2021, it was estimated that 75,673 died from opioid overdose.Opioid abuse recovery is different for each person but is never a quick fix. Recovery takes time and maybe life-long. There are treatments that can be effective in reducing cravings and preventing withdrawal, but additional treatments, such as therapy and behavioral training, are also needed.
There is no one known cause of opioid abuse. There have been some genetic factors that are associated with an increased risk of developing abuse. Other causes may include previous drug or alcohol abuse, history of depression or other psychiatric disorder, or history of abuse.
The use of opioid prescriptions has led to an increase in those who abuse opioids. Pharmaceutical companies told prescribers that the use of opioid medications would not cause addiction. Unfortunately, that was not the case, and many people who are prescribed opioids can become addicted.
In the 12 months ending in April 2021, it was estimated that 75,673 died from opioid overdose.
Opioid abuse recovery is different for each person but is never a quick fix. Recovery takes time and maybe life-long. There are treatments that can be effective in reducing cravings and preventing withdrawal, but additional treatments, such as therapy and behavioral training, are also needed.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Opioid.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Commonly used drug charts.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Opioids.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Opioid overdose crisis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Signs of opioid abuse.UpToDate.Opioid use disorder.Baldini A, Von Korff M, Lin EHB.A review of potential adverse effects of long-term opioid therapy: a practitioner’s guide.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2012;14(3):PCC.11m01326. doi:10.4088/PCC.11m01326MedlinePlus.Opioid misuse and addiction.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Treating opioid addiction.MedlinePlus.Opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevent opioid misuse.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. top 100,000 annually.Department of Health and Human Services.What is the U.S. opioid epidemic?American Psychiatric Association.Opioid use disorder.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Opioid.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Commonly used drug charts.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Opioids.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Opioid overdose crisis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Signs of opioid abuse.UpToDate.Opioid use disorder.Baldini A, Von Korff M, Lin EHB.A review of potential adverse effects of long-term opioid therapy: a practitioner’s guide.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2012;14(3):PCC.11m01326. doi:10.4088/PCC.11m01326MedlinePlus.Opioid misuse and addiction.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Treating opioid addiction.MedlinePlus.Opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevent opioid misuse.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. top 100,000 annually.Department of Health and Human Services.What is the U.S. opioid epidemic?American Psychiatric Association.Opioid use disorder.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Opioid.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Commonly used drug charts.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Opioids.National Institute on Drug Abuse.Opioid overdose crisis.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Signs of opioid abuse.UpToDate.Opioid use disorder.Baldini A, Von Korff M, Lin EHB.A review of potential adverse effects of long-term opioid therapy: a practitioner’s guide.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2012;14(3):PCC.11m01326. doi:10.4088/PCC.11m01326MedlinePlus.Opioid misuse and addiction.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Treating opioid addiction.MedlinePlus.Opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevent opioid misuse.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. top 100,000 annually.Department of Health and Human Services.What is the U.S. opioid epidemic?American Psychiatric Association.Opioid use disorder.
National Cancer Institute.Opioid.
National Institute on Drug Abuse.Commonly used drug charts.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Opioids.
National Institute on Drug Abuse.Opioid overdose crisis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Signs of opioid abuse.
UpToDate.Opioid use disorder.
Baldini A, Von Korff M, Lin EHB.A review of potential adverse effects of long-term opioid therapy: a practitioner’s guide.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2012;14(3):PCC.11m01326. doi:10.4088/PCC.11m01326
MedlinePlus.Opioid misuse and addiction.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Treating opioid addiction.
MedlinePlus.Opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Prevent opioid misuse.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. top 100,000 annually.
Department of Health and Human Services.What is the U.S. opioid epidemic?
American Psychiatric Association.Opioid use disorder.
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