Addiction

What Are Opiates?

As the opioid crisis spreads across the nation, more and more people are asking, “what are opiates?” in fear that they may have taken some. This concern is understandable but can be masked or influenced by misconceptions and mistaken ideas. As a result, the following information can help you understand the nature of opiates and whether or not you need to visit a Texas opiate rehab.

What Are Opiates?

When asking “what are opiates?” it is essential to back a bit in history. Opiates originated in the seeds of the poppy plant and were used by many Eastern cultures as a medication for centuries before being imported to the West. Once here, it became a popular medication, despite its already known addictive qualities. Many artists, such as poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, abused this drug very heavily. And even now, illicit opiate abuse is still common both in the East and in the West, including dangerous substances like opium and heroin.

Now, doctors and medical specialists have created appropriate medications that help to manage pain. The most commonly used types are prescribed after a severe injury or surgery triggers excessive pain in a person’s body. However, even these medications have a potent risk for addiction. This problem occurs because of the reactions that opiates have on the body, even when taken correctly.

What Happens When You Take Opiates?

Many people take opiates every day to manage excess pain and quit when their pain is gone. However, many more take opioids illicitly because they are addicted. Unfortunately, these drugs produce one of the most potent types of addictions because of their effects on the body. Therefore, it is critical to understand this factor when asking, “what are opiates?” Just a few opiate reactions include:

  • An intense feeling of calm and relaxation
  • Relief from pain and anxiety
  • High levels of euphoria that lasts for hours
  • Almost immediate cravings for more opiates

This fierce reaction pairs with the effect opioids have on the body to produce a potent cycle of substance abuse. When taken, opiates flush the body’s endorphin receptors to produce an unnatural level of pleasure. The body and the user can quickly become addicted to this rush and crave it. Sadly, many people end up addicted to opiate medications rather than illegal substances. These individuals flood many an opiate addiction treatment center around the nation.

How Many Opiates are Available?

The question “what are opiates?” is often more complicated than it may seem because many types exist on the market. New classes are created from time to time by medical officials as a way of managing pain. Just a few of the most common of these opiates include:

  • Naturally occurring types – Opium, morphine, codeine, and heroin
  • Opiate derivatives – Vicodin, Percocet, and Oxycontin
  • Human-made opioids – Methadone and Fentanyl

Only a handful of these substances are illegal because opioids still produce one of the best ways to manage pain. But their use also increases the risk of intense addiction. It is a catch 22 – do doctors let their patients suffer or prescribe them opiates and hope that they don’t abuse them? While most do not, a large number of substance abuse treatment center TX facilities are handling those who do abuse them.

Don’t Let Opiates Take Over Your Life

As you can see, the answer to the question “what are opiates?” can be a very hard one to stomach. So many people become addicted to this substance every year that substance abuse centers are flooded with new clients. Thankfully, many of these people regain their sobriety and learn how to live happy and healthy lives again. Do you want to join them? Then make sure to call a professional right away to get help.

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