In recent times, the US has experienced a surge in opioid abuse and overdose cases. In fact, hundreds of Americans succumb to opioid-related conditions daily. Millions of people in the US abuse prescription and non-prescription opioids, so the habit has become a national crisis in both economic and social aspects. Other studies observe that American society loses tens of billions of dollars to the Opioid crisis every year. If you’re one of the millions who are addicted to prescription drugs, contact the experts at Atlanta Detox Center to learn about your treatment options.

Insight Into Opioid Abuse

Pain-relieving drugs (such as morphine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone) fall in the category of opioids. The most common types of abused opioids include prescription painkillers, illicit fentanyl, and heroin.

Towards the end of the 20th century, the medical community thought people had a slim chance of developing dependence when using opioids to relieve pain. As a result, healthcare providers regularly prescribed opioids to their clients. The increased prescription led to widespread use and misuse.

As more people started seeking recovery treatment at drug and alcohol detox centers, it became apparent that opioids were highly addictive drugs. Opioid use disorders continue to increase, and now many American lives are lost every year due to opioid overdose.

Out of the millions of Americans battling opioid use disorders, a substantial percentage suffers from heroin abuse. The volumes of prescribed opioids heightened with doctors prescribing morphine of hundreds of billions of milligrams from 2011 to 2017.

The Opioid Crisis and Addiction

People derive a tempting, but short-lasting soothing from using opioids. The crisis is becoming bigger by day because many people view opioid use as a shortcut to achieving relaxation. As you continue using the drug, your body system develops tolerance, causing you to take higher doses.
Many patients use opioids to relieve chronic pains. Other patients develop opioid abuse-related disorders because of frequently using the drug due to chronic pain.

Furthermore, some opioid abusers begin using heroin; in fact, most heroin users started using heroin because they couldn’t access opioids.
Those who develop tolerance to opioids start taking larger doses. As a result, they eventually fall into addiction because they depend on the drugs for their body systems to function. Some of them opt to use heroin as it is cheaper when compared to prescribed opioids. As a result, the opioid crisis leads to another complex problem – heroin abuse. There are thousands of heroin overdose-related cases every year which causes the need for heroin addiction treatment programs.

Individuals who develop an addiction to opioids cannot live without taking the drug. If they attempt to quit abruptly, they will experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, such as:

  • Hypertension
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Body tremors and shivering
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Slurred speech
  • Breathing problems
  • Numbing of emotions

Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders

Residential addiction treatment programs can help you to overcome your opioid use disorder. As you embark on your recovery, you will need professionals who understand your condition and are willing to walk the journey.

At the Atlanta Detox Center, our healthcare providers will provide a welcoming environment to facilitate your treatment. Some of the recovery programs available at our rehab include:

Contact Atlanta Detox Center to Start Treatment

Many drug abusers believe that they can recover at home without help from an Atlanta, GA, detox center. It is worth noting that the withdrawal effects are overwhelming, so you can rarely win the battle alone. Seek medical intervention to play an active role in overcoming the opioid crisis in American society. Contact Atlanta Detox Center at 470-450-2355 for more details on addiction treatment programs.

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