What Are Opiates?
Opiates are a class of drugs which include morphine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, and fentanyl. Of the 259 million prescriptions written for these drugs annually, about 2 million people develop an addiction, with many addicts never seeking help for it. Opiates have a high risk of overdose, more so than other drugs, with fentanyl alone killing 56,516 in 2020. Addictions begin as “just” abuse. For example, taking an extra prescription pill might be considered abuse. Eventually, abuse like this will cause the user to develop a tolerance for opiates. The more they take, the more they need to attain the same effects. This potentially deadly course of events is what leads to opiate addiction, which can lead to overdose and death.
Short and Long-Term Effects of Opiate Addiction
At opiate addiction treatment centers like Profound Treatment, you can get help in managing the short-term effects of opiate addiction and preventing many of the long-term effects. These effects include:
- Mood issues
- Fatigue
- Changes in Breathing
- Relational Problems
- Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders
If you’re experiencing any of these effects, we encourage you to contact one of the opiate addiction treatment centers near you.