Opiate Addiction
Sometimes in the waves of change we find our true direction.
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How do opioids work in the brain?
Opioids fasten to specific receptor sites in the brain. Once attached, the brain reacts. Opioids target the brain’s reward system by flooding the circuit with a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine sends signals to the brain that blocks pain, slows breathing, and causes feelings of extreme euphoria. Whenever this reward circuit is activated, the brain notes that something important is happening and teaches us to do it again and again. Because opioids use has this keen ability to stimulate this reward pathway, we learn to abuse drugs in the same way.
To understand addiction we should the difference between tolerance, physical dependence and addiction.
What is tolerance?
After a person has taken opioids for an extended period of time, the body tries to counter this effect and normalize function. It responds with decreased sensitivity to opioids in attempt to normalize dopamine levels. As a result, the person needs to continually increase the amount of opioids to get the same level of opioid effect. This is what is known as tolerance.
What is physical dependence?
Initially when someone stops using opioids, the body makes natural opioid like chemicals to compensate and prevents the person from feeling bad. Now the body needs this source of drugs to feel normal. When the body can no longer make enough natural opioids to satisfy the less sensitive receptors, the body becomes dependent on the drug. This is physical dependence.
What is addiction?
Addiction is classified as a behavioral problem caused by brain adaptations and characterized by repeated, compulsive seeking and use of opioids. These are physical changes to the brain which influence behavior and not caused by questionable morals or will power. Once an addiction has developed, individuals inevitably find that it rapidly begins to consume all aspects of their lives.
Addiction is a disease and it is treatable.
An addiction to substances can be one of the most troubling problems that a person can face. Once an addiction has developed, individuals inevitably find that it rapidly begins to consume all aspects of their lives. Withdrawal from opiates can be a fierce, frightening, and overwhelming experience, and no one should stop using opiates abruptly or without medical supervision and assistance.
The goal of medication-assisted treatment is to recover from addiction. It does NOT replace one addictive drug with another. It provides a safe, controlled level of medication to overcome the use of opioids and opioid addiction.
Recovery is possible. But it takes work. After treatment
is finished, everything is NOT automatically fine again. Recovery takes commitment every day, through treatment and beyond.
For More Information on Substance abuse, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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