Opioid Addiction is a serious disorder that needs to be addressed with tact, sensitivity, and care. If you, or someone you love, has become addicted to opioids, you may not know where to turn. You may feel as though everywhere you turn, you’re met with condemnation and a lack of understanding. These can exacerbate the many existing challenges that come with opioid addiction and create friction within families. The tension between loved ones can lead to potentially damaging behaviors. This is why we offer rehab for opioid addiction in Kentucky.
At The Robert Alexander Center in Kentucky, our team of highly trained experts understands the struggles that come with opioid addiction. We are completely dedicated to addiction treatment in Kentucky and work closely with our clients, ascertaining their needs and developing an individualized program of treatment designed to give them the recovery they need and deserve.
The first step towards beating Opioid Addiction is understanding it. Here we’ll look at the facts to ensure that prospective clients, their friends, families, and loved ones can make all the right choices…
What Are Opioids
Opioid
is an umbrella term used to describe a variety of naturally occurring and synthetic drugs. These include the natural alkaloids found in the resin of the opium poppy such as opium, morphine, codeine, and the illegal drug heroin. It also encompasses prescription pain-relieving drugs including forms of oxycodone (such as Percodan, Percocet, and OxyContin) hydrocodone, (examples include Lortab, Lorcet, and Vicodin) as well as Demerol, Darvon and Dilaudid.
When properly used in a medical context, opiates can be invaluable in combating pain and helping patients with injuries or chronic diseases to enjoy their lives normally. However, with repetitive use, the brain can become dependent on opiates and this can result in compulsive use, need, and the behaviors that come with addiction.
Understanding Opioid Addiction
It can be extremely worrying and upsetting watching someone you love battle Opioid Addiction. You may notice out-of-character behaviors which are erratic and even scary to behold. It can be difficult to reconcile these behaviors with the person you know.
However, by understanding opiate addiction we can better help ourselves or those we love to combat it.
Our brains create their own opiates all the time. Whenever we finish a really good workout we get a flood of the brain’s natural opiates- endorphins. However, our brain can’t distinguish the difference between a natural “runner’s high” and the way in which drugs react with the opioid receptors in our bodies and brains.
With every euphoric experience, however, the brain gets increasingly accustomed to opioids, and victims of addiction need to chase down stronger and stronger opiates to get the same rush of pleasure.
This is the essence of how people can become addicted. While some opioids are stronger than others, all are potentially addictive in one way or another.
What Is The Risk Of Opioid Addiction
Everyone who comes into contact with opioids is potentially at risk of addiction. Particularly young people and teenagers whose frontal lobes are not fully developed and as such are more prone to impulsive or reckless behaviors.
The truth, however, is that risk of addiction is a very real consideration for all who use them, even when using them with a prescription. This is why a personalized approach to treatment is so very important.
We’re here to help
If you’re looking for rehab for Opioid Addiction in Kentucky, look no further than the Robert Alexander Center. We are here to administer a caring, compassionate, and completely individualized approach to opioid rehabilitation.
Get in touch with us today to find out more.
