Currently, the United States is seeing one of the worst and dangerous drug crises. Today, over 1,300 people die every week owing to overdoses from opioids. It’s a toll that has increased amidst the pandemic outbreak. Innumerable Americans today suffer from opioid addiction.
The expert analysts opine that this issue begins with overprescribing legal pain medications. However, it has become more intense in the past few years due to the increased supply of synthetic opioids and cheap heroin, for instance, fentanyl, supplied by the overseas drug cartels. And this crisis has attained a massive scale that it’s a national security threat and drag to the economy.
Also, in the past few years, the U.S government increased its initiatives to reduce the domestic and foreign opioids supply, restricting the prescription numbers in the U.S while offering counter-narcotics help to regions like China and Mexico. And in the meantime, the state and federal officials aimed to bring down concentrating less on compelling drug users and others on treating them. And in other places where opioid use has increased, like Canada and Australia, people are experimenting with multiple policies.
The symptoms of opioid addiction
Opioid addiction is also known as substance abuse. And its symptoms can be psychological, physical, and behavioral. A clear sign is unable to refrain from opioid use. The other symptom is a person not being able to stop using more than the prescribed amount of the drug by the doctor. Few other symptoms include:
- Anxiety attacks
- Slow or shallow breathing rate
- Reduced motivation
- Physical agitation
- Depression
- Poor decision making
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Abandoning all accountabilities
You may be addicted to opioid if you have a craving or you think you cannot control the need to use the drug. Chances are you might use the drug, violating the doctor’s approval which causes trouble for you. And you can face issues with your money, health, relationships, friends, and family. In most cases, another person gets aware of your addiction issue and your changed behavior.
The treatment for opioid addiction
Opioid addiction is considered a chronic illness and needs to be treated accordingly. It is essential to monitor and manage it from time to time. It is necessary to stay comfortable discussing your treatment options with a doctor who has the required qualification to treat you. To know more about this, you can check out the Ohio Suboxone Doctors. The treatment options for opioid addiction for every person are different. The ultimate treatment objective is to assist a person in giving up drug use in the future. The moment you stop making use of opioids, the body will change and react. There might be several symptoms such as anxiety, vomiting, and abdominal pain, known as withdrawal symptoms.
The doctor can suggest you take medicines that might help to ease the withdrawal symptoms. It also enables you to manage your cravings. Mainly the medication comprises methadone, naltrexone, and buprenorphine. Furthermore, you might need assistance with your emotional and mental health to cope up with the addiction. Behavioral treatments can enable you to manage depression and help in your recovery.