Opioid Addiction in 5 Days: Process and Recovery
The term “opioid addiction” or “opioid use disorder” refers to when individuals are unable to stop the use of the opioid after the prescribed amount of time by a medical professional. In most cases, opioids are prescribed to treat high levels of pain that occur after surgery.
It is easy to assume that addiction occurs over a period of time, especially in the case of alcohol and drugs. However, in the case of opioids, the addiction cycle can be quite immediate due to the chemical nature of the drug. Opioid use for pain relief can lead to a substance use disorder in a matter of a few days. As such, it is important to know the development of the addiction cycle with opioids and how you can better manage your health without becoming dependent on opioids.
If you or a loved one need help, call our admissions team today at 561-841-1033.Some drugs take time to lead to their dependency, but opioid medications can lead to addiction after five days of use. If you see signs of a substance use disorder connected to opioid use, such as uncontrollable cravings, drowsiness, weight loss, flu-like symptoms, etc., it is important to seek treatment immediately. Please consult your general physician or a medical professional to begin treatment for recovery.
How Does Opioid Addiction Occur?
While there may be obvious signs of opioid addictions that develop after long-term use, it is important to understand what changes occur in the body and the brain while taking opioids. Here is a snapshot of what happens to your health over a five-day use of an opioid.
Day 1 on Your Opioid
For most individuals with an addiction to prescribed opioids, their use begins in a hospital. Opioids are administered for pain relief for a patient who experiences moderate to severe pain, as it can provide quick comfort. While being used, the opioid medication can keep a patient comfortable, allowing them to relax while awake and sleep.
Days 2-4 on Your Opioid
Over the next three days, the amount of opioid medication prescribed varies from patient to patient depending on their pain levels. A patient with a low tolerance for pain may receive higher doses or more frequent ones. The daily intake of these medicines creates a consistent feeling of euphoria, which adds to the dependency on the opioid to feel good.
Day 5 on Your Opioid
As the patient’s body begins to recover from the procedure, their need for pain relief may go down. However, the desire for the euphoric feeling may cause patients to want to continue taking the opioid, thus increasing the likelihood of becoming opioid-dependent. Nurses and doctors in a hospital monitor the drug intake to help prevent patient dependence.
Beyond Day 5 with your Opioid
Once out of the hospital, a patient whose use of painkillers is no longer supervised may continue to use them even when they’re no longer needed for medical reasons. This kind of off-label use can add to the addiction risk. The emerging dependence on them could mean refilling a prescription far sooner than expected or finding alternate ways to get a new prescription from your healthcare provider.
What to Do If You Have an Opioid Addiction
Identifying a Need for Opioid Addiction Treatment
Taking higher doses or using your opioid medication more frequently each day are signs you have developed a dependence on the drug. It’s important to recognize when the need for treating pain has ended and the drug use is purely recreational. Once an individual uses it for recreational purposes, they may find it difficult to stop using the medication. They may also switch to a different opioid if they run out of the first one, because of their feelings of dependency on the drug. When in either of these two states, it is important that the individual seek treatment immediately.
Finding Opioid Addiction Treatment
At an Hanley licensed rehab center, you will find a comprehensive program to care for your needs as you begin recovering from opioid addiction. The first step is a medically-supervised detox. This step allows you to safely experience the withdrawal process. Under the supervision of medical professionals to avoid medical complications. Hanley rehab center also offers personalized programs designed to address an individual’s specific mental, emotional, and physical needs. Hanley also offers a dual diagnosis treatment program that can help identify and address underlying mental health concerns that may be connected to the individual’s drug use.
Recovering from Opioid Addiction
The recovery process for opioid addiction begins with treatment, but doesn’t end there. Depending on the patient’s severity of addiction, they might start with a residential program and transition to an outpatient program. Sustaining a recovery long-term means continuing to work on it during individual and group therapy sessions and learning tools and behaviors to sustain recovery while you’re on your own or with friends and family members.
About Hanley
Hanley is a well-known care provider offering a range of treatment programs targeting the recovery from substance use, mental health issues, and beyond. Our primary mission is to provide a clear path to a life of healing and restoration. We offer renowned clinical care for addiction and have the compassion and professional expertise to guide you toward lasting sobriety. For information on our programs, call us today: 561-841-1296.
