Signs Someone Is High on Opioids
What Does Opioid Intoxication Look Like?
Opioids are highly addictive prescription medications and illicit drugs. Anyone can quickly develop a dependence or addiction to opioids even when used as prescribed. Illicit opioids like heroin are also highly habit-forming, with many developing a habit after just a few uses. The opioid epidemic has become a severe health problem in the US, leading to thousands of overdose deaths yearly. Many people with heroin addiction started with a prescription opioid addiction and then turned to heroin when their prescription ran out.
Fortunately, comprehensive addiction treatment programs can help anyone overcome opioid or heroin addiction, no matter how severe. Although, catching opioid abuse early on can provide a better chance at recovery. Knowing the signs someone is high on opioids may help save someone’s life. If you suspect your loved one is abusing opioids, especially after having an opioid painkiller prescription, you can help them with the addiction treatment they need to overcome it.
Several types of opioids are available and will affect the body at different rates. Opioids have different speeds; they take effect, are eliminated, and have different potencies. No matter which one it is, opioid intoxication can be lethal due to its impact on the central nervous system, which slows down breathing and heart rate. Immediate signs someone is high on opioids include:
- Slurred speech
- Drowsy appearance
- Pinpointed pupils
- Slower movements
- Confusion
- Low blood pressure and body temperature
- Slower heart rate
- Less physical pain
- A euphoric or “high” feeling
Like other types of substance abuse, opioid abuse and addiction can lead to changes in behavior, resulting in decreased work performance, relationship issues, legal problems, and immoral behavior like lying. There are some physical, behavioral, and mood changes you can look for too to indicate the person has an opioid use disorder, including:
- Needle marks or “track marks” on arms and legs
- Flushed, itchy skin
- Falling asleep at inappropriate times or trouble staying awake
- Mood swings and irritability
- Weight loss
- Impulsive actions and decision making
- Visiting multiple doctors or pharmacies for more prescriptions
- Risk-taking activities like driving under the influence
- Withdrawing from activities once enjoyed
- Isolation
- Stealing or lying
- Unexplained periods of absence
- Neglecting work, school, or personal responsibilities
- Neglecting physical appearance
Why Opioids Are So Addictive
The causes of opioid addiction are complex and result in a combination of lifestyle, genetic, and environmental factors. Opioid addiction is usually severe and affects a person’s physical, behavioral, and emotional aspects. When opioids are ingested, they affect opioid receptors in the nervous system. As they bind to these receptors, they cause chemical changes and communication between neurons, leading to euphoria and pain relief.
When a person begins to take opioids regularly, the brain and body rely on these chemical changes. The person also begins to build a tolerance, meaning they need more medication or drugs to get the same effect. With continued use, even within a couple of weeks, the body depends on these drugs to create these feel-good endorphins. When the person attempts to stop using opioids, the body does not know how to function without the drug and develops withdrawal symptoms and cravings. They may continue to keep using to reduce uncomfortable opioid withdrawals and cravings, which include:
- Chills
- Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Severe muscle, joint, and bone pain
- Restlessness
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Flu-like feelings
Physical dependence can lead to abuse, meaning the person is taking more than the medication that was prescribed or used in a way other than prescribed, such as mixing with alcohol or without pain present. At this stage, the drug begins to disrupt signals in your brain that control decision-making and judgment, which makes it challenging to control the impulse to use opioids even though you want to stop. Once there is an uncontrollable compulsion to use, opioid addiction develops. If they can no longer access opioid painkillers, they will often turn to illicit heroin.
How to Help Someone With Opioid Addiction
If someone you love has begun to show addictive behaviors, getting them help as soon as possible is best for long-term recovery. First, drug and alcohol addiction is a brain disease, and opioid addiction affects their decision-making, impulse control, and cognitive processes. Confronting the person about their opioid use can be difficult, and often the person will be in denial or defensive about it. It may take several attempts to get them to become aware of their problem and be open to getting addiction treatment. Here are steps to take to get your loved one addiction treatment help:
Educate yourself
Know about addiction, detox, withdrawal, and various treatment options so you can approach the situation calmly and confidently.
Offer your support
Try not to sound condescending or judgmental and let them know that it is not their fault but a disorder and that you are there to support them and their treatment options.
Offer to go to therapy
You can go to couples or family therapy together so a counselor can better guide you through the situation. They may also be nervous about getting help themselves, so this is a great way to introduce them to addiction treatment.
Create an intervention plan
Staging an intervention can be helpful if they do not want to go to treatment but continue with addiction. The most effective interventions are with a specialist.
Treatment Options for Opioid Addiction
There are several treatment options for opioid addiction. However, the most effective is composed of several levels of care, which include:
- Medical Detox: inpatient detox program will provide around-the-clock care and medications to successfully and comfortably stop opioid use.
- Residential Inpatient Treatment: a most intensive form of treatment that requires the person to live at the treatment facility for their program. This is a great way to separate the person from the outside world and allow them to focus fully on their recovery.
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): similar in treatment intensity to inpatient treatment. However, you go home or to a sober living facility at the end of the day.
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP): less intensive treatment program where you live at home or sober living facility but may allow you to continue work or school schedules.
- Outpatient Program: less than 9 hours a week of treatment and allows for plenty of flexibility.
See the next step after detox in our blog below:
Overcoming Opioid Addiction at Novo Detox
Novo Detox offers comprehensive treatment plans tailored to each person and allows us to treat any opioid addiction severity. Our detox program can help you stop using opioids with around-the-clock medical care and FDA-approved medications. You can then easily transition into our inpatient rehab program, which will address the behavioral and psychological aspects of opioid addiction.
Novo Detox is a luxury rehab in Los Angeles that allows you to go through addiction recovery treatment in a resort-like environment with specialized adjunct therapies like yoga, nutrition, meditation, and more which will make the process less stressful and allow your body to heal more efficiently. Our integrative approach helps heal the body, mind, and spirit to help you or your loved one achieve long-term recovery from opioid addiction.
Please call us at (844) 834-1777 to learn more about our detox and inpatient rehab programs and start the recovery process today.
