Don’t Ignore These 5 Signs of Opiate Use

Because opiate abuse can destroy lives, families, and friendships, it must be stopped immediately. Find out five signs of opiate use that can’t be ignored here.

Every day, 130 people die from Opioid-related drug overdoses.

Because opiate abuse can destroy lives, families, and friendships, it must be stopped immediately. Opioid abuse rapidly takes hold, and is far more common than many people realize. That is why it is important that you notice it early, but knowing what to look out for isn’t always easy.

Read on for five signs of opiate use that shouldn’t be ignored.

1. Misusing Medication

One effect of opioids is the way it affects judgment and thinking clearly. You can find yourself making decisions without thinking it through. And it’s hard to recognize – you might think you’re making good choices when you aren’t.

You could see yourself risk-taking, putting others and yourself in danger. Other signs include:

• Taking more than your prescription tells you
• Taking it “just in case” even if you aren’t in pain at the time
• Borrowing or stealing medication prescribed to someone else

If you find any of the above happening to you or a loved one, tell your doctor immediately.

2. Personality Changes

You’ll start seeing changes in behavior and personality. They might not happen often at first, but you want to look out for:

• Lack of interest in activities and hobbies
• Showing negative reactions to and neglecting family and friends
• Missing events and obligations like work or appointments
• Having no regard for the consequences of their actions
• Lying, secrecy, and defensiveness, especially about their substances used or the time they spend using them.

You could also see an increase in isolation and alienation as the addition wears on. They will also gravitate towards the people that encourage their addiction.

3. Health Changes

Pay attention to any mental and physical health changes. In most cases, overall health will always begin to decline. Check out for:

• Glazed, bloodshot eyes
• Always ill
• Unexplainable injuries and sores
• Rapid changes to weight
• Poor condition to skin, teeth, nails, and hair
• Poor memory and recall ability
• Slurred speech or rapid rambles

4. Withdrawal

When you can’t get access to the drug you’ve become addicted to, your body goes into withdrawal. Signs to look for include:

• Nausea
• Cramps
• Headaches/migraines
• Insomnia
• Paranoia
• Irritability

These symptoms are often severe and will cause the person to desperately seek a hit of that drug to get rid of them. This is how addiction maintains its hold on you.

5. They Have Tried to Quit Before

Addiction is a chronic condition and it comes with its recoveries and relapses. If a relapse occurs, the approach to abstinence will need to change to recover again.

Each day people try different methods to recover from their use. They try outpatient treatments, self-help groups and many more. But often they can lack what you need based on your individual case.

You may want to consider a medication-assisted treatment program, such as the Dr. Starsiak opioid addiction treatment, or entering rehab. 

Watch for These Signs of Opiate Use

Opiate addiction can destroy lives, so it is important that you don’t ignore these signs of opiate use. Be sure to watch for signs of overuse of prescription drugs, as well as changes to personality and health. The earlier you can help someone get help, the easier it will be.

If you found this article useful, be sure to check out our other blog posts.