By definition, “Opioid is a term for a number of natural substances originally derived from the opium poppy and semisynthetic or synthetic chemicals with similar properties that bind to specific opioid receptors in the human brain.” While opioids are potent painkillers, unfortunately, they are also common drugs of misuse because of their wide availability and highly addictive capability.
Opioid use disorder is the chronic use of these opioids that causes clinically significant distress or impairment, including the desire to obtain and take opioids despite serious social, physical, and professional consequences. Opioid use disorder involves compulsive, long-term self-administration of opioids for non-medical purposes. Some common behaviors that can signal opioid use disorder, or misuse of opioids, are as follows:
Since the beginning of 2020, the number of opioid overdose deaths has increased dramatically. Florida experienced a 39% increase in overdose deaths in just one year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that more than 100,000 Americans were lost to overdose deaths in 2020, with more than 7,800 deaths in Florida. Opioid use disorders affect over 16 million people worldwide, over 2.1 million in the United States, and there are over 120,000 deaths worldwide annually attributed to opioids.
If you or someone you love is experiencing opioid use disorder, here are some things you can do. First, carry Narcan with you at all times. Sudden death due to acute opioid intoxication is always a risk. Narcan is used to reverse an opioid overdose and comes as a nasal spray. Narcan is usually given by a friend, caregiver, or loved one if they think an opioid overdose has occurred. After Narcan has been given, 911 should be called right away. Administering Narcan is not a substitute for emergency medical care for opioid overdoses.
Next, you can seek treatment. SMA Healthcare offers a comprehensive set of medical and clinical services to help you treat opioid use disorder and bring it under control or into complete remission. SMA’s medication-assisted treatment program can provide maintenance medications using buprenorphine, an oral opioid. Oral opioids suppress withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings without providing a significant high or over-sedation and, by eliminating supply problems, enable those fighting opioid use disorder to be socially productive. Buprenorphine can be tapered over time for those desiring to enter into complete opioid remission.
SMA also offers individual and group counseling services to assist individuals in treating the environmental and psychological issues associated with opioid use disorder. Personal trauma is a significant issue for many experiencing opioid use disorder that can be addressed by motivational, cognitive-behavioral, and mutual help counseling services and programs.
Learn more about SMA Healthcare’s programs for treating opioid use disorder by contacting our crisis response team at 800-539-4228.