Opiate Addiction Symptoms - Detecting Drug Abuse in Someone You Care About

Opiates are a group of drugs that are used medically to treat pain. This drug can have the potential to be highly abused by the people who are prescribed it. For example, these include drugs such as opium, morphine, heroin, and codeine. In addition, an opiate is a depressant and produces a euphoric affect on the user. Most users of the drug will become dependent with continued use of the drug. If the user becomes addicted then the main focus of life becomes getting high. Furthermore, this article will focus on determining opiate addiction symptoms in potential users.

The physical symptoms of opiates depend on the type, dosage and the method used to take the drug. Opiates tend to slow down the body with continued use. It can slow down the heart, breathing and brain activity. In addition, the drug can reduce appetite, sexual desire and thirst. Most people that use opiates gain a tolerance for pain. As well as, the dangers of using opiates increase when the drug is used with other drugs. A further complication is that using the drug with needles that are not sterile can lead to catching hepatitis, HIV or tetanus. If the person becomes a regular opiate user then the person will experience some withdrawal symptoms within four to five hours. Some of the symptoms are sweating, chills, irritability, uneasiness and stomach cramps.

Many pregnant women who are addicted to opiates are at high risk for a spontaneous abortion. In addition, the pregnancy can result in still born, miscarriage issues, premature births and breech deliveries. Many babies that are born addicted to opiates will share opiate addiction symptoms similar to adults. Also, the babies can experience withdrawal symptoms from a few weeks to months. Another problem is that babies born to opiate addicted mothers are at high risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Many heroin addicts tend to keep odd objects lying around the house. For example, a bent spoon, bottle caps, dirty syringes and eye droppers are some of the items used to prepare the drug for injection or smoking. Another sign of drug users is a person with a red,raw nostril from sniffing drugs. One of the more telltale signs are track marks on the body from injecting the drug with a needle. Many users have dilated or constricted eyes from drug use, if a person doesn't have immediate access to the drug then he will experience withdrawal symptoms such as excessive sweating, chills, shaking and vomiting.

Opiates are a very addictive drug and will require the help of a treatment center to overcome the addiction. In addition, the treatment of choice will depend on the type of opiates and the severity of the addiction. There are different types of drug treatment such outpatient drug counseling and inpatient drug rehab counseling. Addiction symptoms can be hard to detect in some people due to the lengths taken to cover up the problem, but having a serious talk with person can reveal the truth.