(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Today, more than 130 people die each day from an opioid overdose. This includes everything from heroin to prescription pain killers. The economic burden of this form of addiction equates to approximately $78.5 billion in the United States each year.
But, why are opiates so addictive? And what effect do they have on the human body? Let’s have a closer look in this article.
What Are Opiates and What Do They Treat?
Opiates come from the opium plant. People use these types of drugs for a variety of reasons, including to relieve pain. Unfortunately, these substances are some of the most addictive in the world, especially for people that take them for a long time.
In addition to relieving pain, the opium plant can also relieve stress and help people sleep. Today, there are various byproducts available for medical purposes. We call these man-made substances opioids. These include but aren’t limited to:
* Morphine
*Oxycodone
*Heroin
*Codeine
The main difference between opiate in its pure form and opioids is that opioids are synthetic. This means scientists synthesize the ingredients by chemical processes.
Why Are Opiates So Addictive?
The truth is there are plenty of reasons opiates are so addictive. The first one is that they’re extremely effective in treating pain. So much so that doctors prescribe them to tens of thousands of people across the world each day.
Moreover, there is no research that proves that many patients continue using opiates as a way of coping with emotional stress. The opiates numb the body and offer a sense of euphoria which can temporarily relieve some of the emotional pain people feel.
Additionally, opiates are legal and accessible. All you have to do is take a trip to the doctor with a pain-related issue and you’ll likely come out with some form of opiate. While it may not be the intention to grow dependence on the drug, it’s very easily done.
They’re also easy to build a tolerance to. Because no one likes being in pain, patients often take more than their prescription, thus growing tolerance and dependence. Over time, they continue taking the pills regardless of their original symptoms.
The Effects of Prescription Opiates
When it comes to opiates, there are various short and long term side effects. These depend on the type of opiate you take and the way you take them. Many people with opiate addiction will go from taking these drugs orally to snorting or injecting them with the aim of amplifying the high.
Some of the most common side effects include:
*Euphoria followed by apathy
*Loss of judgment
*Slurred speech
*Attention issues
*Memory problems
*Drowsiness and slow movements
*These short term side effects can also lead to:
*Depression
*Insomnia
*Withdrawal symptoms
*Brain damage
If you or a loved one experiences any of the following short or long-term side effects, it’s essential that you contact an addiction rehabilitation centre for support.
Get More Information on Addiction Issues From Health News Digest
So, why are opiates so addictive? The truth is, they relieve symptoms of pain and offer a sense of euphoria. Unfortunately, these short-term benefits can lead to serious physical and mental health complications.
If you’d like more information on addiction as a whole, visit the Addiction Issues category of our website. We share a wealth of information on the different types of addiction.