Toronto Drug Rehab and Opioid Addiction

Toronto Drug Rehab and Opioid Addiction

• Kate Pindera
• 4 Oct 2019

Individuals who are addicted to opioids are not the only ones impacted by their struggle, but their families are affected by drug addiction as well. In fact, the opioid crisis has greatly affected entire communities across North America.

In order to understand the opioid crisis, you must first understand what opioids are, how they work, and why someone might become addicted to them. Hopefully, building this understanding will increase the awareness of Toronto drug rehab as an important element in overcoming this ongoing issue.

What Are Opioids?

‘Opioid’ is used to describe a wide range of pain-relieving drugs, both legal and illegal. They come in a variety of forms, including tablets, capsules, and liquid. Some common examples of opioids include, but are not limited to:

• Morphine
• Codeine
• Oxycodone
• Fentanyl
• Oxymorphone
• Hydrocodone
• Methadone
• Tapentadol

When opioids are used in line with your doctor’s instructions, they can be extremely helpful to anyone experiencing acute pain. But what makes them effective at treating pain can also make them dangerous. When a doctor’s prescription turns into an addiction, it might be necessary to look into Toronto drug rehab centres.

How Do Opioids Work?

As previously mentioned, opioids relieve any sensations of pain in your body. But how do they actually do so?

The body is filled with sensory receptors, which allow for you to experience different sensations in the world around you. When a change in your environment occurs, they send electrical pulses throughout your body, inciting different reactions to what’s happening. are what send signals throughout your body when a change in the environment occurs. This is why you feel hot or cold when there is a sudden change in temperature, why you might laugh when someone tickles you, or why you might experience sensations of pain.

Opioids work by attaching themselves to these receptors that are found in the brain, spinal cord, as well as other parts of the body. Doing so prevents the receptors from sending pain messages to the rest of your body, dulling any feelings of pain that you might be experiencing.

Due to their incredible ability to relieve pain, opioids can become addictive. If this is the case, Toronto drug rehab is likely required in order to overcome addiction.

Why Are Opioids Addictive?

If you have been taking opioids to relieve pain for an extended period of time, chances are that you may require a higher dosage as your body has built up a tolerance to the drug. This means that as your body becomes accustomed to the opioid you are taking, it may no longer work the same way it once did. So in order to achieve the same pain-relieving results, you will need to increase the amount that you’re taking.

This typically creates a physical dependence on the drug. When your body is used to functioning with the aid of opioids, you can start to feel symptoms of withdrawal if you try to ween yourself off the drug. It can be harder to stop using a harmful substance if you begin to experience signs of overdose. Sometimes, people will seek out another dose just to relieve the symptoms. Signs of opioid withdrawal can include:

• Insomnia
• Diarrhea
• Restlessness
• Vomiting
• Muscle and bone pain
• Involuntary leg movements
• Chills with goosebumps

Like substances such as alcohol and marijuana, you may believe that there is no risk when it comes to drugs prescribed by doctors. However, you would be wrong. Someone who has been prescribed opioids by a doctor is just as likely to become addicted as someone who is taking them for recreational purposes illegally and might require Toronto drug rehab.

Additionally, if you are using your opioids in a manner that is different from how they were prescribed to you (i.e. snorting or injecting the substance) as well as in larger doses or more often, there is a much higher likelihood that you will become addicted. This kind of rapid ingestion of opioids can even cause an accidental overdose.

Toronto Drug Rehab for Opioids

If you believe that you have become addicted to opioids but you’re not entirely sure, here is a list of some of the most common signs of addiction:

• Can only think about the drug
• Can’t stop taking the drug
• Spend all your money on the drug
• Feel anxious, moody, or depressed
• Experience signs of withdrawal
• Neglect certain responsibilities such as your work and family

Of course, no singular item listed above is an indicator of addiction. More often, you need to be participating in most, if not all, of these behaviours. But, do any of these signs sound like you? You may have an addiction and might want to consider seeking treatment.

Freedom From Addiction offers extensive Toronto drug rehab programs that specialize in opioid addiction treatment. It is our goal to provide our clients with the life skills and tools that are necessary in order to overcome addiction and lead a sober life, free of opioids.

Contact us today if you or someone you know is struggling with opioid addiction. Opioids are an extremely dangerous drug that can easily result in an overdose. We’ll gladly answer any questions that you may have.