Opioid Addiction – Kansas City, KS
A Risky-But-Treatable Crisis
While opioids have fair and sensible uses, they're also ripe for abuse. People can easily fall prey to these drugs and form a deeply unhealthy dependence on them. If you're one such person, you may even suffer an opioid addiction here in the Kansas City area. The upside is that we at B&L Medical Group can effectively treat this problem, stopping it from taking over. Just keep reading to learn more about it, or book an appointment to see us.
What’s an Opioid Addiction?
Doctors have prescribed opioids for decades as a treatment for pain, coughs, etc. Still, such medicine isn’t without risk; it can quickly cause addictions.
Opioid addiction is a chronic and compulsive use of opioids despite harmful consequences. As such, it’s most characterized by physical dependence, intense cravings, and increasingly heavy drug usage. The condition can have other effects, though, like drowsiness, weight loss, and similar ailments.
Most opioid addictions don’t have one single cause, as they involve many risk factors. The most notable of these include:
- A younger age, especially the teens or early 20s
- Personal/family history of substance misuse
- Clinical depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder
- Problems related to work, family, or friends
How Do Opioid Addictions Affect You Long-Term?
Left unchecked, an opioid addiction is very hazardous. It’ll gradually cause many issues that lower your quality of life unless it’s treated.
The most obvious impact will be on your day-to-day experiences. After all, opioid addiction is disruptive and leads to problems with work, the law, and relationships with friends and family. Those addicted often struggle to hold jobs and don’t manage their daily needs as they should. At the same time, they’re more likely to experience organ damage, a weaker immune system, etc.
Of course, the biggest long-term impact is a high risk of overdose. Quickly taking too many opioids can strain your body, preventing you from breathing properly. This disruption is extremely dangerous and can lead to death without fast medical attention. (If you or someone else shows signs of an opioid overdose, call 911 at once.)
What Treatments Exist for Opioid Addiction?
As bad as opioid addictions are, it’s entirely possible to overcome them. Various treatment options exist for these drug dependencies.
Perhaps the best-known option is medication-assisted treatment (MAT). With this approach, a patient takes special medicines that reduce cravings and other withdrawal symptoms. It’s also very effective when combined with talk therapy and other forms of support. Even better, the medication-assisted method is quite safe; it’s supervised by trained professionals and shouldn’t lead to a relapse.
Today, several drugs can help patients with opioid addictions. These range from Buprenorphine and Suboxone to Vivitrol, Sublocade, and even Naltrexone.
Get Help for Your Addiction
Given the risks of opioid addiction, don’t hesitate to see us for help. Just call us at 913-713-1238 (or visit our website) and we’ll gladly assist. Once you visit, Nurse Laura will outline some amazing treatment options for you to ensure you recover and thrive.
