Opioid Addiction Treatment

A public health crisis and debilitating personal challenge, opioid addiction ravages people’s lives. While you may have no intention of developing a damaging drug habit, it was an uninformed medical system that pushed narcotic pain relievers on the public with little or no oversight. When you or a loved one develops an opiate addiction, you can rely on Online Psychiatrists, serving NY, NJ and FL, for attentive, holistic treatment. Call today for an in-person or online consultation.

What Are Opioids?

Opioids are powerful medications used to treat pain. The most common types of opioids include:

• Fentanyl
• Oxycodone
• Hydrocodone
• Morphine
• Dilaudid
• Heroin, which is an illegal street drug that falls into the category of opioids

While opioids are effective pain relievers, they’re so addictive that they lead to dependency. Opioid addiction occurs when your body and mind need these drugs to feel normal. This condition now affects about two million Americans each year.

At Online Psychiatrists, you’ll find a medical doctor specializing in opiate addiction treatment. Serving adults between the ages of 19 and 65 in New York, New Jersey, and Florida, your psychotherapist provides both medical assistance and therapeutic talk therapy programs to help you overcome your dependency. Talk therapy is available in person and online through effective, remote telepsychiatry.

How Can I Tell if I’m Addicted to Opioids?

The signs of opioid addiction in you or a loved one vary from one person to another. Some people hide signs of addiction, while the symptoms are more obvious in others. Common telltale signs include:

• Cravings
• Lack of hygiene
• Decreased social life
• Change in personality
• Weight loss
• Isolation
• Irritability
• Flu-like symptoms
• Desire for a higher dosage

For the best results, be honest with your doctor at your initial consultation about how you’re feeling, what physical symptoms you’re experiencing and why you think you may be addicted. Your opioid addiction treatment at Online Psychiatrists relies on the latest research and the most effective and proven therapies. Your recovery and well-being always come first.

How Does Opioid Addiction Happen?

Opioids are the most effective medications available to treat pain, so your doctor may prescribe opioids for pain relief after surgery or for managing chronic pain. Well-intentioned doctors often underestimate the risks and prescribe opioids for too long. Sometimes, they recommend potent narcotics when weaker ones would have been sufficient.

However you started taking the opioids, the science behind the addiction is clear. Opioids cause chemical changes in your brain that numb physical pain and cause you to feel pleasure and drowsiness. Your addiction happens in a step-by-step process, such as:

• The feeling you get from opioids is intoxicating, and you want to feel it again and again.
• As you take the drug, you develop a dependence and a tolerance, which forces you to need more and more opioids to experience the same effect.
• Even if you don’t like the feelings caused by opioids, you can still become addicted.
• Eventually, your brain stops naturally producing as many feel-good chemicals called endorphins, since it’s getting them from the medication.

What Happens if I Stop Taking Opioids?

Opioid dependence means that you need the drug to feel normal. Withdrawal refers to the symptoms you undergo when you try to stop taking opioids cold turkey. The withdrawal process causes symptoms that include:

• Depression
• Physical pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Cold chills and sweats

Although opioid withdrawal is not life-threatening, the long process of suffering is one reason it’s so hard to quit. But it’s possible to get through safely with the help of a compassionate and well-informed medical practice like Online Psychiatrists. They know how to treat the various aspects of opioid addiction. Addiction treatment is one of their specialties.

What Are the Dangers of Opioid Addiction?

A doctor who knows your medical history and the risks you face not only can offer the best opioid addiction treatment to you, but also can prevent the addiction in the first place. For example, your doctor could choose other options for pain relief.

But opioid addiction also puts you at risk for associated problems such as:

• Illegal activity to get opioids
• Relationship conflicts
• A decrease in job productivity
• Dangers operating motor vehicles and machines
• Overdose
• Organ damage
• Psychological problems
• Suicide

Opioid Addiction Treatment

Treatment for opioid addiction typically includes safe and effective medication management. Medications such as buprenorphine, also known as Suboxone, eliminate your cravings and allow you to safely taper down your dosage. Other medications, such as naltrexone, block opioid receptors so that they no longer generate euphoria. A combination of medication management and talk therapy provides the best results.

Your medical psychotherapist takes an integrative approach, treating the mind and body together. It’s a crucial step for overcoming opioid addiction. Contact Online Psychiatrists today to begin your road to recovery.