Signs of Opiate addiction in young adults
Opioids are drugs derived from the opium poppy. When opioids/opiates were produced, they were intended to treat pain and manage some health problems- chronic and acute.
The primary downside to opiates is that they can be addictive, and users are more likely to abuse it. Notwithstanding, they remain effective when it comes to pain treatment and management.
In the human brain, there are opioid receptors that occur naturally. These receptors get bonded to drugs like OxyContin and Morphine. The brain has these receptors because some neurotransmitters act on these areas, and some analgesic effects are produced.
Interestingly, opiod receptors can be found in few places in the body like the Spinal Cord. The opioid drug is bound to these sites, thereby blocking pain, anxiety and distress sensations. When you take opioids or opiates, you may experience drowsiness, nausea, irritability, etc.
One of the reasons why this drug is very addictive is because it produces an euphoric feeling when it is taken, and users may always want to experience this feeling from time to time.
Hence, even when they are not feeling any pain, they are likely to take opiods/opiates so that they can continue to experience this feeling.
Here are some of the common signs of opiate addiction in young adults
Weight loss: You can tell when a young adult is addicted to opiates when they experience a sudden weight loss. Also, you might also observe a lack of personal grooming which could give them a different look
Drowsiness: Another way to tell when someone is addicted to opiates is when they always feel drowsy. They might feel like fainting or slipping when standing.
Sleep disorder: People addicted to opiates often struggle with getting the right amount of sleep. They might either suffer from insomnia or hypersomnia.
Inability to cut down on opioids use: Opioids addict always find it hard to refrain from the drug use. Anytime they try to, they may experience withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, depression, irritability, etc.
