Opioids include both illicit drugs such as heroin and prescription pain medications. No matter which opiate someone is taking, they usually start taking it to relieve chronic pain. The problem is that these drugs are extremely addictive. There are more and more people who are falling into an addictive lifestyle which worsens the opioid epidemic we have.
With the widespread opiate abuse over the past couple of decades, our Midwood Addiction Treatment Center team wants to educate more people on the long term effects of using opiates. There may be some pain relief in the short term when taking these drugs. However, the longer you take them, the less they are going to help with your pain. There are other long term effects of taking opiates, too.
Common Side Effects of Using Opiates
When someone first takes opiates, they are likely going to experience some common side effects. Some of these may include:
- Drowsiness
- Pain relief
- Euphoria
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Confusion
- Labored breathing
The reason for some of these effects is because opiates activate the opioid receptors in a person’s body. When this happens, there is pain relief and slowed body functions. The dopamine release causes these effects and is responsible for the pleasurable feelings that lead to addiction.
Long Term Effects of Using Opiates
Whenever someone uses a medication or drug long term, there are going to be some effects that are generally damaging. When it comes to opiates, the health issues from chronic use or abuse are well-noted in studies and research. Keep reading here to find out more about these issues today.
Gastrointestinal System Issues
Using opiates long term can cause many gastrointestinal issues. Some of these issues might include:
- Recurrent or chronic constipation
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
- Bloating
- ER visits due to stomach pains
- Possible fatal bowel obstruction
- Mental health issues due to GI health conditions
If you or someone you know is abusing or using opiates long term, it is important to know about these GI issues that could occur. If you are already having these issues and want to get clean from opiates, please reach out to our Midwood Addiction Treatment Center team today.
Respiratory Issues from Long Term Opiate Abuse
In addition to the GI issues, many people who use opiates long term experience respiratory issues, too. For example, they may have irregular or slowed breathing. When abusing opiates, this breathing issue can lead to an overdose, brain damage, coma or even death.
Cardiovascular System Issues from Long Term Opiate Use
If you or someone you know is using opiates long term, there are likely going to be some cardiovascular system issues that occur, too. Some of these issues might include:
- Atrial fibrillation
- Stroke
- Heart failure
- Increased risk of coronary heart disease
- Increase risk of cardiovascular disease
- Heart attack
- Endocarditis
- Death
Don’t wait for any of these things to happen. You can get off from opiates by reaching out to our professional treatment center staff and entering an opiate addiction treatment program today.
Other Health Issues from Long Term Opiate Use or Abuse
There are some other health issues that might occur from long term opiate use or abuse, too. Some of these issues might include:
- Lack of sex drive
- Reproductive health problems
- Increased risk of falls and fractures
- Higher risk of getting HIV or another infectious disease
- Higher risk of addiction
- Increased risk of infection at needle site (if using illicit drugs)
There are far too many people who are falling into an addictive lifestyle and experiencing these health issues. You can stop your addiction in its tracks before things get this bad. All it takes is admitting you need help and making the call to our treatment center today.
Opiate Addiction Treatment Options
If you do have an addiction to opiates, it would be a good idea to get into an opiate addiction treatment center today. There are many treatment options available for this type of addiction including, but not limited to, the following:
- Individual and group therapy
- Family counseling
- Nutritional therapy
- Yoga
- Mindfulness meditation
- 12 step facilitation therapy
If you aren’t sure what these treatments entail, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team to discuss them today.
Get Opiate Addiction Treatment Today
Do you or someone you know have an addiction to opiates? Even if you are just using them long term, but don’t have an addiction, the effects noted above can still happen to you.
Contact us today to get into an opiate addiction treatment center program today. Our team is ready to help you get clean from opiates and into a recovering lifestyle right now.