If there is someone in your life, such as your child, a relative, or a good friend, who has not been acting normally in your opinion, you may wonder if they are struggling with an addiction, perhaps to opioids.
Knowing opioid addiction signs is crucial, so you make the right choices regarding helping your loved one with treatment options.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are a class of drugs that aid in pain management. However, if someone becomes addicted to medication prescribed by a physician, they could easily slip into heroin use as it is cheaper and relatively easy to find.
Opioids are drugs that require medical supervision. When a doctor prescribes pain pills, they usually only provide a month’s worth or less at a time because of the addictive properties opioids are known to carry. When someone uses opioids frequently and then finds they do not have more pills or heroin available, withdrawal symptoms are likely to occur.
Knowing the signs of opioid addiction aids in obtaining help from a professional source to alleviate withdrawal discomfort and get back to a state where opioids are not needed to get through the day.
Signs of Opioid Addiction
There are many signs that trigger warnings that someone needs assistance in stopping opioid use. These symptoms are not always apparent, and sometimes they do not show up until weeks or months of opioid use.
Some opioid addiction signs include:
- Changes in financial dealings – If someone needs to purchase drugs to stay high continuously, finances will be affected. Bills tend not to get paid, and money is no longer as readily accessible when someone struggles with drug addiction. This, in turn, could lead to stealing from friends, family members, or businesses.
- Drowsiness – A side effect of opioid use is tiredness. You may notice the addict nodding off or having difficulty retaining their attention to an important matter. They may also sleep for long stretches of time.
- Weight loss – For some, the use of opioids tends to lead to the feeling of not needing to eat regular meals. If someone doesn’t have funds to eat and obtain drugs, they tend to choose the drugs if they have an addiction.
- Poor hygiene – Someone struggling with opioid addiction does not take care of their physical appearance as they had in the past.
- Changes in relationships – When an addiction is present, relationships usually suffer. Someone who has an opioid addiction tends to avoid friends and family members. Job performance is likely to suffer, as well.
- Flu-like symptoms – Someone suffering from opioid abuse tends to feel sick often. This includes fever, coughing, sore throat, digestive troubles, and achiness.
- Extreme cravings – An opioid addict has cravings and an uncontrollable urge to continue using drugs.
Getting Opioid Addiction Treatment at Fort Behavioral Health
It is important to obtain opioid addiction treatment for a full recovery of symptoms. If you know someone struggling with opioid use, contact Fort Behavioral Health in Texas to inquire about opioid addiction and treatment options available.
Some of our services include:
- Trained staff that care and listen to clients
- Adult recovery programs with detoxification available on-site
- Full medical team readily-available to assist with detox and recovery efforts
- Individual rooms with private bathrooms
- 12-step program
- Counseling both for individuals and in group settings
Reach Out to Fort Behavioral Health for Help with Opioid Addiction
Our Fort Behavioral Health team is available to chat with you about your questions and concerns. Reach out by calling us at 844.332.1807, or contact us online to find out more about the signs of opioid addiction and treatment options. We look forward to helping your loved ones get on the right path toward improving their lives.
