Opiate Abuse: What Are the Signs?

Sometimes addicts are able to hide addiction for a long time; the signs of having a problem with a substance are not always immediately clear. How can you confirm your suspicions that someone you know has a problem? In this article, you will find more information about how to determine if someone might be abusing or addicted to opiates.

What are opiates?

Although there is technically a difference between opiates (naturally occurring) and opioids (man-made), the term “opiates” has come to be used to describe the class of drugs that includes heroin, Oxycontin, morphine, Vicodin, Fentanyl, and other prescription drugs that have been created from the sap of the opium poppy. Opiates depress the Central Nervous System (CNS) and may cause both physical and psychological dependence. To learn more about opiates and how they have been used and abused throughout history, read Then & Now: Past & Present Use of Opiates.

What are some signs that someone is abusing opiates?

• Withdrawal Symptoms: Many drugs, including opiates, lead to tolerance and dependence. When the user stops administering the substance, their body reacts negatively because it has been “reprogrammed” to function with the substance present and has difficulty functioning without it. Withdrawal symptoms that are specific to opiate addictions include nausea, diarrhea, goose bumps, cramps, and vomiting. Does the person frequently experience flu-like symptoms followed by a relatively quick recovery?
• Drowsiness or Nodding: As CNS depressants, opiates often make users feel tired. When intoxicated, opiate users may seem to be less alert than usual and even start to “nod” off. At high doses, opiates have been known to lead to unconsciousness and to completely depress the user’s respiratory system (so that the person stops breathing). If the person has been using or addicted to opiates for an extended period of time, their body may tolerate the substance and this “sleepiness” will be less pronounced or, in some cases, no longer a symptom. Therefore, when opiate addictions are further advanced, an intoxicated person may seem alert. >
• Contracted Pupils: When a user is intoxicated on opiates, their pupils will contract and appear to be very small, as if there were an extremely bright light turned on in the room. Although pupil size can vary by individual and according to age, a dramatic difference in pupil size between the suspected addict and others in the room is likely a sign that they have been using. Unlike the drowsiness sign, contracted pupils continue to occur, even after the body has developed a tolerance to the opiate. In this way, this sign is often a reliable way of determining recent use in opiate addicts.

What should I do if I suspect that someone is using opiates?

Most opiates have a relatively high potential for addiction. Both the short- and long-term effects of opiate abuse and addiction can be devastating. If you believe that someone you know is addicted to opiates, we encourage you to contact eDrugRehab to discuss the situation with one of our addiction specialists. We can help you arrange an intervention, choose an appropriate rehab facility for their needs, and start them on the path to recovery.