Opioid Addiction

Initially prescribed to manage pain, opioids have contributed to a growing public health crisis as misuse and dependence have become increasingly common. Opioid use disorder is a chronic medical condition that changes the way the brain functions and requires ongoing, compassionate care. At Healing Hope Suboxone, Addiction Recovery & Psychiatry, Tammi Bancroft, FNP-C, takes a personalized, holistic approach to opioid addiction treatment, developing care plans tailored to each patient's unique needs and recovery goals. Tammi offers in-person and virtual care from the practice's main location in Colorado and also provides virtual appointments for patients throughout Arizona. If you're ready to take the next step toward recovery, call the office or request an appointment online today.

What are opioids?

Opioids are drugs that alter brain function to get the desired effects. Doctors prescribe opioids to control pain because the drug blocks the brain's pain receptors. 

Types of prescription opioids include:

• Hydrocodone
• Oxycodone
• Morphine
• Fentanyl

Heroin is an illegal opioid.

Opioids also release your brain's feel-good chemicals, causing feelings of euphoria and triggering the brain's reward center, which leads to cravings and the compulsive need to use. 

What is opioid addiction?

Opioid addiction is a condition that causes an obsessive need to use the drug, despite its potential harm. Opioid addiction is a chronic problem that affects physical, mental, and social well-being.  

Opioids change brain chemistry, increasing your tolerance to the drug; you must take more and more of the drug to get the same euphoric feelings. If you take opioids for an extended period, your body develops a dependence on the drug. 

When you attempt to stop taking opioids, your body goes into withdrawal, causing uncomfortable physical and emotional symptoms. 

Though treating opioid addiction is difficult, Healing Hope Suboxone, Addiction Recovery & Psychiatry has a system that makes recovery possible. 

What are the signs of opioid addiction?

The signs of opioid addiction may be difficult to identify, especially in people with a prescription from their doctor. However, with opioid addiction, you or someone you love may experience:

• Change in sleep habits
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Change in personal hygiene
• Complaints of an increase in pain
• Isolation from friends and family
• Financial difficulties
• Making mistakes at work or school
• Stealing from friends or family
• Needing to take more opioids 

Going into withdrawal when attempting to stop opioids is also a sign of addiction; withdrawal indicates a physical dependency on the drug. 

How is an opioid addiction treated?

Healing Hope Suboxone, Addiction Recovery & Psychiatry takes a patient-centered approach to care when treating a patient with opioid addiction. They care for the whole patient, not a data point. Treatment may include:

Detox

Healing Hope Suboxone, Addiction Recovery & Psychiatry provides detox support to help you get through the withdrawal symptoms.

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)

MAT is a treatment for opioid addiction that combines medications to control cravings and withdrawal symptoms with psychotherapy. 

Mental health treatment

Healing Hope Suboxone, Addiction Recovery & Psychiatry also provides mental health treatment, diagnosing and managing any mental health issues that may co-occur with your addiction, such as depression or anxiety. 

Deciding you're ready to get help for your opioid addiction means you're one step closer to recovery. For world-class care from a compassionate group, call Healing Hope Suboxone, Addiction Recovery & Psychiatry, or request an appointment online today.