Opiate Addiction in Pasadena, TX
If you or a loved one struggles with opiate addiction in Pasadena, help is available to help a person overcome this addiction.
Not more than 10 years ago, when a person had chronic pain, after surgery, or just had something as simple as a toothache, a doctor would prescribe pain medications called opioids. These medications act on the opioid receptors in the brain, which are responsible for pain relief. However, doctors quickly realized these medications not only relieved pain, they also resulted in addiction, and a number of Pasadena residents as well as Americans across the country found themselves struggling with opiate addiction.
What is Opiate Addiction?
Opiates can include heroin, which is harvested from opium poppy plants. Examples of prescription opiates include codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), or oxycodone. These medications can cause changes in a person's brain where they begin to experience strong and uncontrollable cravings for a substance. Over time, a person will build up a tolerance to opiates and will have to use more and more to achieve the same high.
Not only do opiates result in pain relief, they also act on other receptors in the body. They can slow a person's rate of breathing. This can cause a person to stop breathing altogether, resulting in potential coma, brain damage, and even death. Sometimes a person will abuse opiates along with alcohol or medications known as benzodiazepines. When taken in combination, a person is at even greater risk for overdose. Chronic opiate abuse can also slow down the movement of a person's bowels. As a result, they may be chronically constipated and can even experience a bowel obstruction that requires surgery.
Opiates are highly addictive substances. Through opiate addiction rehab, a person can go through our process of drug detox in Pasadena so their body is no longer dependent upon the drug. Then, a person can go through the process of learning how to become less mentally dependent upon using opiates to get through each day.
Dangers of Opiates
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deaths from synthetic opioids (such as fentanyl) have increased by 72.2 percent from the year 2014 to the year 2015. Opiate addiction rehab has become an even more important intervention as opiate abuse has claimed the lives of many people, including the recording artist Prince in 2016.
According to a report from the Harris County government, more than 650 opiate-related deaths occurred in the county in 2009. In addition to death from overdose, hospitals admitted more than 3,000 residents for opiate abuse and more than 5,000 people sought help at an emergency department for opiate abuse. Opiate addiction in Pasadena is a chronic and growing problem, and one that people are requiring professional medical help to overcome.
Opiate Addiction Signs and Symptoms
Those who abuse opiates are often described as going "on the nod." They often appear sleepy, with their arms and legs heavy. They are slowed-down due to the effects of opiates on their bodies. Examples of symptoms associated with opiate abuse include:
- Anxiety and anxiety attacks
- Constipation
- Depression
- Drowsiness
- Euphoria
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Poor coordination
- Slurred speech
Seek Treatment for Opiate Addiction in Pasadena
In addition to these symptoms, a person with an opiate addiction will often start to experience erratic behavior. They may withdraw from friends and family and have difficulties in their personal and professional lives. They may start to have financial difficulties as they are struggling to support their habit. A person struggling with opiate addiction in Pasadena may resort to stealing prescription medications or "doctor shopping" by going to multiple doctors in an attempt to obtain prescriptions for painkillers. Some people who are initially addicted to painkillers may resort to using heroin as it is often cheaper and more readily available on the street than prescription painkillers.
Our opiate addiction drug rehab in Pasadena is unique in that the U.S. Federal Drug Administration has approved several prescription medications for the express purpose of treating opiate addiction and helping a person overcome their addiction. Examples of these medications include methadone and Suboxone.
While a person must continue to see a physician regularly for monitoring, these medications can still provide pain relief for a person in chronic pain without causing the addictive and euphoric side effects associated with opiate abuse. For those in opiate addiction recovery due to heroin abuse, taking these medications also provides the opportunity for a person to take a legal substance and be less at risk for arrests due to using an illegal substance.
If you or your loved one is ready to become free from opiate addiction, call us now at (877) 804-1531.