Take the first step towards recovery by contacting The Robert Alexander Center (RAC), a full-service inpatient opioid treatment center near me. Through opioid addiction treatment at RAC, our clients can address the root causes of addiction with mental, physical, nutritional, and spiritual support. Contact us today to see how our comprehensive programs can support you today.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids act as pain relievers for the body by blocking the opioid receptors. Opioids can be found as prescription pills used to treat pain disorders and block pain for patients before and following surgery and illegally, known as heroin or fentanyl.
Across the United States, in 2019, doctors wrote over 153 million prescriptions for opioids. Believe it or not, that is a decrease from over 252 million a decade ago.
Opioids are extremely addictive with approximately 21-29% of individuals misusing their opioid prescription. Additionally, studies show that 4-6% of individuals who misuse their opioid prescription, transition to the illegal opioid heroin when their prescription ran out. So approximately 2.6 million people yearly turn to heroin to continue their opioid drug misuse.
Opioids often create decreased heart rate, breathing, and sleeping. Another common side-effect of opioid use is called “the nod.” This is when an individual who has taken an opioid starts to nod in between consciousness and semi-consciousness.
While opioid use is widespread and common, it doesn’t necessarily mean that someone is abusing their prescription. What should you look for to determine if someone is abusing opioids?
Signs and Symptoms of an Opioid Addiction
Signs and symptoms of opioid addiction can vary based on the method an individual is getting the drug.
For individuals who are addicted to prescription pain pills, but aren’t using illegal drugs, you may notice they use more of their medication than necessary, they take it with other substances to increase its effect, or they may visit multiple medical practices in an attempt to get multiple prescriptions.
For both illegal opioids and prescription opioids, individuals who are suffering from an addiction may resort to stealing pills or money to purchase more. Additionally, you may notice increased risky behaviors, decreased performance at school or work, and changes in relationships or friend groups as problems increase.
Physically, someone who is using opioids may experience dry mouth, flushed skin, heavy feeling in the extremities, nausea and vomiting, severe itching, and clouded thinking. Long-term individuals could experience insomnia, liver and kidney disease, lung complications, mental health disorders, and reproductive disorders like sexual dysfunction in men and irregular cycles in women.
Is an Inpatient Opioid Treatment Center Near Me Necessary?
Opioid addiction is serious and potentially deadly. One of the best ways to treat addiction like this is to go to an “opioid treatment center near me” and work through an addiction treatment program.
In an inpatient “opioid treatment center near me,” an individual can access around-the-clock support and care from expert medical professionals trained in supporting clients with addiction. Through this process, they help clients go through withdrawal in detoxification and support them through addiction treatment while they work on challenging their distorted thinking and developing healthy and safe coping skills.
Through inpatient opioid treatment centers near me, clients can focus on their mental, physical, and spiritual health while attending individual, group, and even family therapy sessions.
The Robert Alexander Center
At The Robert Alexander Center, our clients have access to a comprehensive therapeutic treatment program designed to support clients with substance use disorders and other comorbid mental health concerns like anxiety, mood, and personality disorders.
Contact us today to see how our state-of-the-art facility can meet all of your addiction treatment and recovery needs.
