Opioid Addiction

 

 

People commonly think that opioid addiction only happens when someone makes poor decisions in their life. Heroin is one of the most talked-about opioids abused on a regular basis. The thing is there are also many prescription opioids that are abused regularly. Some people actually start taking opioids for legitimate reasons. They may have been injured in an accident or had major surgery that left them in severe pain. The opioid medications are given to try to alleviate some of the pain that they experience. These opioids can include oxycodone, codeine or even hydrocodone.

They’re commonly prescribed by a doctor at first. Once the medications stop working as well as they did initially, the patient may begin to take them more often or in higher doses to try to achieve pain relief. They become so used to not feeling pain, that once they do it’s excruciating.

Doctors will only provide prescriptions for opioids for a specific amount of time. It is a doctor’s job to monitor how long a medication is taken, and in what quantities to prevent addiction. Once the patient can no longer get a prescription for the medications they’ve been taking, they may turn to getting the drugs on the streets. Many people who aren’t addicted to opioids will sell their drugs for a profit to those who are addicted. The problem with this is that the patient never really knows what they are buying. Anyone can claim that they are selling pure medications, but there is no way of knowing for sure because he or she didn’t get them directly from the pharmacy.

An Escalating Problem

Unfortunately, over time, the body builds up a tolerance to medications that a person takes. That’s why people need to take more of the medication, take it more frequently, or look for stronger options to get the relief they need. People often think that it takes years to develop an opioid addiction, but that isn’t the case.

The drugs slowly rewire the way the brain works. They disrupt the body’s reward system. When opioids are absorbed into the system, the body changes in many ways. Not only do the drugs relieve pain, but they can also reduce stress and sometimes make it easier for people to sleep. When people stop taking the drugs after an extended period of time, they often suffer from severe mood changes and insomnia. Going without sleep can greatly affect someone’s mood and ability to reason or focus.

Some people don’t even realize that they’ve become addicted to opioids. They finish a prescription and think that they can go about their lives, as they did before they started taking them. This isn’t the case, though. Doctors recommend weaning off the medications. In other words, the patient should take increasingly smaller doses of medicine. This dosage reduction should take place over an extended period of time under a doctor’s supervision. This allows the body to adjust to not having any medication at all. People who are addicted to opioids often find that although this process is simple, it’s often harder to do than it seems. The temptation to take a larger dose of opioids to ward off withdrawal symptoms is often significant. Unfortunately, giving in to this temptation is when overdoses happen.

People assume that they can take the same amount of medication that they were taking at the beginning of their prescription, but their bodies can’t handle the original dose anymore. If the patient can’t get the original prescription dosage, they often feel compelled to buy the drugs on the street. The medications that they buy second hand don’t come in their original bottles very often. There is no way to truly know the dosage of the medications or even what they really are. A dealer will claim anything in order to make a sale. This lead to over 70,000 fatal overdoses in 2017 alone.

The Need for Healing Restoration in God

Recovering from opioid addiction is difficult. Trying to do it by oneself can seem nearly impossible at times. The Bible says that people need to put their trust in the Lord, and he can help them get through anything that life throws at them. Addiction is no different. According to James 5:15-5:16 “And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” This passage means that people need to pray to the Lord for deliverance from their opioid addiction. Only He can give them the strength to overcome the hardship that is oppressing them.

There are going to be times when the struggles seem overwhelming and unbearable. Corinthians 10:3 states “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” This means that even though things seem inescapable, God can help to lift them up and free them from their temptations. That is if people turn to Him for help. God forgives all sins if someone is willing to turn away from them. He doesn’t want anyone to idolize things and put them before Him. This includes drugs and alcohol.

Helping Someone Who Has a Drinking Problem

It’s important to share with addicted people that turning to the Lord is the first step they need to take for ultimate healing. He doesn’t expect His children to go through recovery alone. There are numerous treatment options available to help them achieve long-term sobriety. Someone should consider going to CBT, or Cognitive Based Therapy, to help learn why they turned to drugs in the first place and what led to their opioid addiction. If they can narrow down the root of the addiction, they’re more likely to avoid a relapse in the future.

If an addicted person has been through trauma, trauma therapy may be able to help. He or she should talk about the trauma they experienced. This helps them to learn how to cope with it in a healthy way. Group therapy is very beneficial for many people battling opioid addiction. They’re surrounded by other people on the same journey who are going through the same struggles. Many churches have group meetings on a regular basis for parishioners or other people in the community to attend.

If someone is interested in learning about the programs available or how to develop more programs for followers, they need to reach out to Chaplain Mike. He has had his own struggles with addiction in the past, so he knows first-hand how tough getting clean can be. He can help provide guidance and insight on what to expect during recovery, as well as make the process as comfortable and effective as possible.