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The United States is currently in the middle of an opioid epidemic with overdose deaths rising to approximately 166 per day. Opioids are drugs that are derived from the opium poppy. Many opioid drugs are legal when prescribed by Doctors for safe consumption, but other opioids like heroin are extremely deadly and illegal.

Brand name legal opioids include:

· Actiq

· Duragesic

· Sublimaze

· OxyCotin

· Percodan

· Percocet

· Tylox

· Dilaudid

It’s not uncommon to hear about someone being placed on drugs like morphine, fentanyl, codeine, oxycodone, or vicodin for the purpose of pain relief, possibly after a bone break or surgery. When used as directed, the opioids won’t cause you harm; however many people get addicted during this time. If consumed in high enough doses, opiates can give off a high, taking the user away from any stress or anxiety they may have been experiencing. This euphoric feeling is what causes the addiction to begin.

If you or your loved one is open about their opiate use, it should be somewhat easy to identify is the use is abusive or if they’re addicted. Using opioids like Heroin is of course a major problem and requires medical attention. For the legal opioids however, it may be harder to decipher abusive from necessary use. When prescribed by a healthcare professional, it’s okay to take the doses exactly as the prescription states. If you or your loved one begins upping their dose without the go-ahead from their doctor, this might be the beginning of drug abuse.

A Treatment Center in Los Angeles called Nexus Recovery Services treats opioid addiction for those seeking to turn their life around. Because the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence has estimated that 48 million people have abused prescription drugs, the likelihood of you or a loved one belonging to that category is high. Some of the signs of opiate addiction that Nexus Recovery Services identified include:

· Using medication in any way not prescribed by a doctor

· An increased tolerance for the drug- needing more to get the same elects

· Going to multiple doctors for new prescriptions

· Putting yourself or others at risk while under the influence of opiates

· Trying to cut down or stop using opiates, but can’t

· Having symptoms of opiate withdrawal such as vomiting, tremors, insomnia, nausea, irritability, anxiety, or depression

· Excessive mood swings

· Stealing or selling prescriptions or engaging in illegal activities to pay for more opiates

· Lying about or becoming defensive when asked about opiate use

Nexus Recovery Services, a treatment center in Los Angeles, offers four different programs for patients suffering from opiate addiction. Depending on the level of support and treatment the patient needs, they will be entered in a partial hospitalization program, an intensive outpatient program, and outpatient program, or an aftercare program. The clinical team at Nexus creates very personalized treatment techniques because they realize that everyone’s story and journey is different.

Nexus also makes it a goal of theirs to identify the root of the addiction. More often than not, the addict faces an underlying problem that fuels the addiction. This can include depression, anxiety, or even copious amounts of stress.

The Los Angeles Treatment Center also identified some long-term effects of opiate addiction and why it’s important to get help as soon as possible. These long-term health effects include:

· Liver damage

· Brain damage

· Abnormal pain sensitivity

· Increased risk of heart attack and heart infection

· Increased risk of HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C if injecting drug

· Hormonal dysfunction which may result in impotence and infertility

Even though there are a million horror stories out there about losing a loved one to opiate addiction, there is always help out there. Opiates are a dangerous drug and can be nearly impossible to recover from without the help from a medical professional team. Nexus Recovery Services can offer their assistance, so call today.

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