Understanding Opioid Addiction
Opioids are medications designed and prescribed for pain relief. Drugs like hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, and codeine work by interrupting the flow of pain signals as they travel from the site of pain (such as a back injury, impacted tooth, broken arm) to the brain. Over time, the body works harder to send those pain signals, and it requires more and more of the opioids to continue to keep pain at bay – and to continue feeling the often euphoric side effects that come along with the consumption or administration of opioids.
Dependency vs. Addiction
As many opioids are actually prescribed by physicians for legitimate pain-related use, it’s important to understand what constitutes proper use versus dependency or addiction, although your APS Healthcare opioid detox coverage should address both:
- Proper Use: The only proper way to use opioids is in the amount and frequency dictated by the prescribing physician and for the condition the prescription was intended to treat. It is never proper to share prescriptions or to use more of the medicine than your doctor told you to.
- Dependency: Dependency can occur when the body becomes used to the opioid medication and experiences withdrawal symptoms when the medication is tapered off or stopped altogether. Withdrawal symptoms include the following, which generally last for between 3-7 days:
- Muscle aches
- Restlessness
- Excessive tearing and yawning
- Runny nose
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramping
- Goosebumps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Vision problems
- Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)
- High blood pressure
- Addiction/Abuse: Drug addiction/abuse is categorized by a compulsive use of the drug in question without the ability to stop – even when it has become dangerous to their health or disruptive to the user’s personal or professional life.
Although drug dependence can occur even if a patient is taking their opioid medication strictly as prescribed, drug abuse or addiction is the deliberate misuse of the medication, often with devastating consequences. Treatment for both dependence and addiction/abuse may be provided for under your APS Healthcare opioid detox coverage.
Getting Treatment
Your APS Healthcare opioid detox coverage most likely offers assistance with several different types of addiction treatment, although how much is covered will depend on the type of plan you have and the type of facility you choose to be admitted to. Break the cycle of addiction by finding a rehab center that best fits both your need and your benefits so you can finally begin your journey to a better, drug-free future.