HomeAddiction & Treatment Recovery BlogOpioidsDifferent Types of Opioid Addiction You Should Know About

Different Types of Opioid Addiction You Should Know About

Addiction takes on many forms, each uniquely affecting those it touches. At Crossroads Treatment Centers, we specifically treat opioid addiction for those looking for a way out. Understanding opioid addiction and its various components can be incredibly difficult, both for the person with the addiction as well as their loved ones and family members. By learning about the different types of opioid addiction and how it can manifest, you’ll be better equipped to explore the path toward long-lasting recovery.

What is Substance Abuse?

Opioid addiction is a form of substance abuse, which involves the misuse of drugs and/or alcohol. Commonly misused substances include opioids, cocaine and methamphetamines, but there can be many other types of substances that individuals can misuse for various reasons. Each substance impacts the body and mind in unique ways, leading to physical dependence and health issues. Opioid treatment in particular often requires a combination of medication and therapy.

Drug Addiction

Drug addiction encompasses the dependency on misused prescription medications or illegal drugs. This type of addiction can manifest as a need for increasingly larger doses to achieve the same effects. Withdrawal symptoms and cravings are common, making it challenging to overcome without professional help. Comprehensive treatment plans often include medication-assisted treatment and counseling.

Different Types of Opioid Addiction

At Crossroads Treatment Centers, our focus is helping individuals recover from opioid addiction. Also known as opioid use disorder (OUD), opioid addiction is defined as the chronic use of opioids to the point of diminished quality of life. This class of drugs is used to reduce the way the body interprets pain. Whether a person is prescribed painkillers and misuses them or illegally obtains opioid substances, opioids can and often do change one’s brain chemistry to the point where the individual using (or abusing) them becomes physically dependent on them. At this point, the condition is known as opioid use disorder.

Fentanyl Addiction

The Food and Drug Administration approved Fentanyl as a synthetic opioid used for analgesic and anesthetic purposes back in 1968. Since then, the drug has gone through various iterations of approval and has often been used as a pain-relieving mechanism during surgery. Unfortunately, fentanyl is also one of the most dangerous types of opioids. It is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. The opioid is often found as a cutting agent in other illegal substances, making it incredibly lethal.

Heroin Addiction

Heroin, a highly addictive drug, is derived from morphine. Users who take heroin often do so intravenously or by sniffing, snorting, or smoking it. Injection of heroin or any other drug increases the user’s risk of developing infectious diseases from contaminated needles. Such diseases may include HIV, hepatitis, bacterial infections and more. Individuals are also at risk for collapsed veins, as well as for building up a dependency to the drug, which happens with all forms of opioids.

Percocet Addiction

Percocet is a regularly prescribed painkiller that contains oxycodone and acetaminophen. Oxycodone is prescribed to reduce the perception of moderate to severe pain, while acetaminophen is an over-the-counter medication and fever reducer. Together, these drugs help minimize the way individuals experience pain. In recent years, Percocet addiction has become a significant problem throughout various parts of the world, especially within the US. Those who are addicted often try to acquire the opioid illegally and through unsafe means.

Hydrocodone Addiction

Hydrocodone is a commonly prescribed opioid within the US. The drug has a chemical structure akin to that of codeine (the cough suppressant) and morphine. Often taken orally, hydrocodone alters the perception of pain to the effect that individuals feel sedated, drowsy, dizzy, and disoriented. Regular use of Hydrocodone and overuse of the drug may lead to its dependency, which can cause serious health repercussions, including death.

Morphine Addiction

Morphine addiction is a highly deadly opioid use disorder. Prolonged use of morphine may change the neural adaptations in the brain associated with reward and pleasure. When an individual continues using morphine for an extended period of time, they build up a tolerance to it, causing them to need more of the drug to elicit its original desired effects. Large overdoses of morphine can cause asphyxia and death.

Crossroads: Immediate Help for Substance Use Disorders

At Crossroads, we offer comprehensive care for substance use disorders, including FDA-approved medications, counseling and peer support. We understand the urgency of getting the help you need, which is why we provide same-day virtual appointments for your convenience.

Our dedicated team is ready to assist you with personalized treatment plans, clinical assessments and care coordination. With options for Medicaid, Medicare, TRICARE, VA CCN, and most commercial insurances, we aim to make your path to recovery as easy as possible.

Call or text 855.694.8288 to take the first step today.