What are the Long-Term Effects of Opioids?

It’s no secret that opioid use is a growing issue in the United States. This is largely in part due to the accessibility to opioids as prescription medication and the fact that opioids are highly addictive. Regardless of whether you use opioids legally as prescribed or illicitly, you should make yourself aware of the risks involved and know when to seek help for an addiction.

Long-term Effects of Opioid Use

The immediate effects of opioids are noticeable for the rush of dopamine they induce, which is that extreme feeling of euphoria that makes opioids so addictive. Other immediate effects include drowsiness, slowed breathing and nausea. 

Continued use or abuse of opioids can result in other issues over the long term, such as addiction and withdrawal symptoms. Some long-term effects of opioid use include:

• Restlessness
• Insomnia
• Muscle and bone pain
• Vomiting
• Cold flashes
• Constipation / Diarrhea 

Recovering from Opioid Addiction

If you have been using or abusing opioids for a period of time, you may become addicted. You may experience withdrawal symptoms like those listed above, as well other issues, such as strained relationships, slacking work and school performance, and legal issues.

Giving up opioid use on your own can be extremely challenging due to the addictive nature of opioids. However, recovery from addiction is within your reach when you have the right support.

Treatment professionals, like those at Tulip Hill Recovery, can work with you to help you recover from addiction and reach a brighter future. 

Start your Recovery Journey at Tulip Hill Recovery

At Tulip Hill Recovery, we focus on discovering what factors in your life may be contributing to addiction in order to treat it at its main source. Our treatment model emphasizes the dual diagnosis approach, which means we treat addiction as well as co-occurring mental health disorders that might be fueling the addiction. This helps a person in recovery become better equipped for dealing with the challenges of mental health disorders without feeling like they need substances or alcohol to cope.

Are you ready to talk to someone about treatment for addiction for you or someone you love? Please contact us online or call us at 877-845-8192 to get in touch with our team and help start the recovery journey.