Opioid addiction and opiate addiction are major public health crises in the U.S. and have killed hundreds of thousands of people in the last twenty years. In Ohio, prescription opiates and opioids are responsible for 7% of all drug overdose deaths, with fentanyl and its analogs causing 78% of deaths. Armada Recovery is fighting back by providing unwavering support, evidence-based strategies, and empathetic care to those struggling with opiate and opioid addiction. If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to us today before the situation takes a potentially deadly turn.
Key Takeaways
- Opioid addiction often begins with legitimate pain treatment or occasional recreational use.
- Tolerance and dependence can develop quickly, even when opioids are taken as prescribed.
- Withdrawal symptoms are a major reason people continue using opioids.
- Psychological dependence turns opioid use into a compulsive behavior.
- Professional treatment is critical to safely stop opioid use and prevent relapse or overdose.
What are opioids and opiates?
The words opioid and opiate are closely related, and they are often used to mean the same thing. There is a technical difference, but when it comes to addiction and rehab treatment, they affect the body and brain in very similar ways.
Opiates are drugs that come directly from the opium poppy plant. These include heroin and a number of opiate medications that have been used for pain relief for centuries, but can also be highly addictive.
Opioids include opiates, plus lab-made or semi-synthetic drugs that are designed to work the same way in the brain. These drugs attach to opioid receptors, reducing pain, but also make you feel peaceful or extremely euphoric, which is what makes them prone to abuse.
What is opiate addiction?
Opiate and opioid addiction mean continuing to use the drugs even though the damage is obvious and the consequences are becoming more and more serious.
The condition is also called opiate use disorder or opioid use disorder (both commonly abbreviated to OUD), and it is one of the most common but dangerous forms of drug addiction.
At Armada Recovery, our treatment programs covering all major forms of opioid addiction. These include:
- Fentanyl addiction
- Heroin addiction
- Morphine addiction
- Codeine addiction
- Oxycodone addiction
- Hydrocodone addiction
- Hydromorphone addiction
- Tramadol addiction
- Methadone addiction
How does opioid addiction develop?
Opioid addiction can originate from a prescription that you received for pain or after surgery, which then escalates out of your control. It can also develop from using opiates and opioids to get “high” or to tranquilize or self-medicate.
In either case, opioids are so strong that if you use them for an extended period or in large amounts, the brain comes to expect them in your system. When this happens, it hands over pain management and other brain functions to the drugs. If you cut down how much you are taking or stop using them altogether, you then go into withdrawal. This is the physical bit of opiate addiction known scientifically as opiate dependence.
If you don’t get help to stop, this will soon be joined by a psychological dependence where opioid use becomes compulsive, and everything else in your life gets ignored or neglected. Once this happens, even if you want to quit, it can feel impossible to do on your own.
What are the signs and symptoms of opiate addiction?
Symptoms of OUD may vary depending on the individual, the drug that is being abused, and how long they have been using it. Watching for warning signs is crucial because early treatment can help prevent serious health and personal risks. Some of the biggest signs of opiate addiction include:
- Needing opioids just so you don’t feel sick or anxious
- Taking your medication for stress or sadness, instead of the pain they were prescribed for
- Obtaining opioids or opiates illegally
- Having to take more than before because you have grown tolerant
- Getting and using opioids becoming more urgent or important than anything else
- Experiencing problems with your health or in your personal life but still not being able to stop
If you notice these opiate addiction symptoms, you need to get professional help because your life is already in danger.
Who is most at risk of opiate addiction?
Anyone who uses opiates can potentially become addicted, but the chances increase if you:
- Live with chronic or long-term pain
- Stay on opioid medication beyond the short-term need
- Start adjusting doses on your own
- Receive opiate prescriptions without regular check-ins or review
- Have past struggles with drugs, alcohol, or compulsive behaviors
- Struggle with anxiety, depression, or other unresolved mental health issues or traumatic experiences
- Can get prescription opioids easily
- Start using street heroin or fentanyl when you can’t get a prescription
What are the dangers and side effects of opiate addiction?
Opiate addiction is a life-threatening illness, and many people tragically lose their lives before they get the help they need. Some of the biggest dangers include:
- Opioid and opiate overdose, which can slow or stop breathing without warning
- Long-term breathing problems and reduced oxygen to the brain
- Permanent brain injury caused by repeated overdoses
- Heart rhythm problems and cardiac strain
- Liver damage from opioids combined with acetaminophen
- Kidney stress and dehydration
- Chronic constipation that can become dangerous or require surgery
- Hormonal disruption affecting mood, energy, and sexual health
- Higher risk of pneumonia and respiratory illness
- Collapsed veins and circulation problems (with injection use)
- Serious skin infections and abscesses
- Blood infections that can spread to the heart or brain
- Increased risk of HIV and hepatitis from shared equipment
- Worsening mental health
- Legal risks
- Problems in your relationships, work, and education
Treatment for opiate addiction at Armada Recovery
Care starts by helping your body clear opioids safely. Opioids cause withdrawal that can be painful and, in some cases, dangerous. Opiate detox at Armada Recovery happens in our inpatient center, so our medical staff can watch your symptoms and give you medication if you need it.
After detox, you will move into rehab, which stops you from returning to opioids. Opiate rehab delivers various forms of therapy that focus on your opioid use, personal struggles, daily habits, and the situations that lead you to use. Rehab services are available through our outpatient treatment centers in Akron and Dayton, with sessions scheduled for your convenience.
Once the main phase of opioid drug rehab is over, some people move into partial hospitalization for a short time, while others continue with outpatient care. This next step will be decided between you and our team to ensure you have everything you need to build on the progress you have made.
Get help for opiate addiction today
If opiates or opioids are putting you or someone you love at risk, Armada Recovery is here to help. Contact us today to talk through your situation and explore our safe, effective treatment options.
FAQs
- Can you die from opiate addiction?
Yes. Opiate addiction can lead to fatal outcomes, most commonly through an opiate overdose, which can slow or stop breathing without warning. - How can I help a loved one with an opiate addiction?
Encourage them to seek professional treatment, avoid enabling drug use, and offer support without judgment. Connecting them with a treatment provider like Armada Recovery can save their life. - Is there a cure for opiate addiction?
There is no instant cure, but opioid use disorder is highly treatable. With proper medical care, therapy, and ongoing support, long-term recovery is absolutely achievable.
References
https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/OHIOGOVERNOR/2024/10/30/file_attachments/3052169/2023%2BUnintentional%2BDrug%2BOverdose%2BAnnual%2BReport_FINAL.pdf
https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt39467/2021NSDUHsaeSpecificStatesTabs122022_0/NSDUHsaeOhio2021.pdf
https://ccbh.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IncreasingRacialDisparitiesInOhioOverdoseRates_3.2025.pdf
https://www.apha.org/getcontentasset/9d45c5ab-4694-4401-9683-40288bb58147/7ca0dc9d-611d-46e2-9fd3-26a4c03ddcbb/ohio_pdo.pdf