Ohio has seen an alarming increase in the number of opioid overdoses, prompting the need for heightened awareness of the signs of opioid use disorder. If you can recognize opioid use disorder symptoms early on, you may be able to save someone’s life by getting them help before their addiction turns fatal. If you spot the signs of opioid addiction in yourself or someone you love, reach out to Midwest Center at Youngstown for reputable opioid addiction treatment in Youngstown, OH. Learn more about our opioid rehab by calling us today at 844.544.0502.
Do you use prescription opioids for pain relief, or do you suspect someone in your life may be misusing opioids? If so, becoming familiar with the signs of opioid addiction can alert you to the need for opioid addiction rehab in Ohio.
5 Signs of Opioid Use Disorder
Be mindful of the following opioid use disorder symptoms:
1. Powerful Cravings for Opioids
One of the first signs of opioid use disorder you may recognize in yourself is an intense craving for more opioids. You may find that you struggle to restrict your use to your doctor’s recommended dosage. You may also feel a strong pull to use your prescription opioids even when not experiencing pain. Many people who develop opioid use disorder continue using the drug long after their pain has subsided.
2. A Decline in Mental Health
Once your brain has become dependent on opioids, it will require more of the drug to induce positive feelings. Opioids provide euphoria in addition to pain relief, which is a large part of what makes some so tempting to misuse. When you take an opioid drug, the opioids bind to opioid receptors in the brain and stimulate a higher level of dopamine production, making you feel good. Over time, your brain will stop producing dopamine on its own and require more opioids to induce positive feelings. If opioid use is discontinued, you will struggle with depression and an inability to feel pleasure. For those already dealing with a mental health condition, opioid use disorder can worsen the symptoms.
3. Impaired Cognitive Function
Long-term use of opioids can affect the healthy functioning of your brain. You may notice that your memory is not as sharp, and it is more difficult to focus or concentrate on anything. Some older adults misusing opioids may attribute this to the typical signs of aging rather than one of the potential signs of opioid use disorder.
4. Insomnia
People using opioids show a much higher rate of insomnia. This may come as a surprise since these drugs can also make you very relaxed and drowsy. Although they can induce sleepiness, opioids disrupt your natural sleep patterns so that you are unable to get the deep, restorative sleep you need to function at your best.
5. Constipation
Constipation is one of the most common opioid use disorder symptoms. It is also easily overlooked as one of the prominent signs of opioid addiction since constipation can also be caused by many other factors. Opioids interrupt the natural functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, leading to a lack of fluid in the intestines and a hardening of stool.
Seek Treatment Midwest Center at Youngstown
At Midwest Center Youngstown, we understand the importance of recognizing the signs of opioid addiction as early as possible to prevent further damage to one’s health. We offer a range of treatment options, such as:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Family therapy
- Holistic therapy
- Fitness therapy
It is important to stay vigilant if you suspect someone may need help from our opioid addiction rehab in Ohio. Give us a call today at 844.544.0502 if you need help for yourself or a loved one to overcome opioid addiction.