We hear about the country’s opioid crisis on the news or read about it in articles. However, these pieces mostly talk about what is currently happening instead of why. The media does an excellent job covering it as a hot button issue. That coverage includes information about hospitalizations and deaths from opioids, including abusing prescription drugs.
If you or a loved one are affected by the opioid crisis, contact Midwest Detox Center today at 833.647.0392 to learn more about how to get started on the path to recovery.
Defining Opioids
Before we can understand the opioid crisis, defining what opioids are must occur first. When drugs derived from opium, or a synthetic version of it, that means they’re classified as an opioid. For years, morphine was used as a pain reliever. That drug is one of the most abundant natural opioids we can find in opium. Through the advancement of medicine, researchers developed ways to replicate morphine’s effect and change its strength.
Due to the scarcity of morphine, other opioids, including methadone, came into the picture. Today, we often equate opioids with pain relief. Some examples of common opioids include:
- Codeine
- Dilaudid
- Fentanyl
- Hydrocodone
- Methadone
- Oxycodone
- Tramadol
The Start of the Opioid Crisis
Everything has a starting point, including the opioid crisis. Some researchers can trace this crisis back to the late 1990s. Many pharmaceutical companies were consistently looking for new methods for pain control and relief. As a result, they often pushed doctors to use synthetic or semi-synthetic opioids. These companies stated that these drugs were either less addictive or non-addictive compared to morphine.
Because doctors wanted to prescribe better options that presented less or fewer dangerous side effects, they pushed these medications. They believed there would be no negative repercussions in doing so. As a result, the opioid prescription distribution business grew to what it is today, which contributes to the country’s opioid crisis.
What We Need to Know About Opioids
The more we know about opioids, the more we can battle the opioid crisis. For example, many believe that opioids are a stronger version of what’s available over-the-counter. While these medications both have pain-relieving properties, they do so in different ways. For example, non-opioid drugs like acetaminophen and ibuprofen don’t interact with a patient’s central nervous system during pain relief. However, opioid medications do when they bind to your brain’s receptors.
Others believe that it isn’t possible to develop an opioid addiction if you’re careful. However, as individuals develop tolerance, they require the use of more opioids. That means, over time, the dose patients take to relieve their pain isn’t going to work as well. If patients aren’t following their doctor’s recommendation, that could lead to opioid abuse and misuse. As a result, patients could develop a physical dependence on these drugs. At this stage in opioid use, our opioid detox center in Ohio can help.
About Non-Opioid Pain Relief Options
Some believe that opioids are the only way patients can experience relief from severe pain. That isn’t the case, though, because opioids should only be used as a short-term pain relief option. Many doctors are finding that, when they use non-opioid pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen together, it’s just as effective as an opioid.
As a result, patients are experiencing pain relief without having to take an addictive substance. The recommendation is for patients not to take medications until they feel pain. Then, once the pain starts, the recommendation is to use these non-opioid medications together to find relief.
Finding Help Amid the Opioid Crisis at Midwest Detox Center
Are you suffering from an opioid addiction following an accident, surgery, or another pain issue? Do you know someone else who might be abusing opioids? The opioid crisis is a scary situation many Americans are facing, and they shouldn’t be going through it alone. Contact Midwest Detox Center at 833.647.0392 today to learn more about treatment and prevention support.
