It’s not uncommon for people battling opiate addiction to try to take matters into their own hands when the desire to cut back or completely stop using arises. More often than not, attempts to stop using are met with bitter disappointment and the inevitable return to opiate abuse. This pattern can go on for months or even years.
While every little step should count, repeated attempts to stop using opiates can actually make a bad situation worse in the long run. Ultimately, once opiate addiction becomes an issue, it’s never too soon to seek out professional treatment help.
Opiate Addiction Effects
According to the U. S. National Library of Medicine, by the time an opiate addiction takes hold, the environment inside the brain has undergone significant change, both structurally and functionally. This means, cell functions, neurotransmitter activities and the overall workings of the brain have changed as a result of opiate abuse.
The more relapses one encounters, the stronger the behavioral patterns of opiate addiction become.
These changes not only affect the brain on a physical level, but also mentally and emotionally to the point where a person’s thinking, belief systems and priorities have shifted, making getting and using opiates “the” primary concern in his or her life. Under these conditions, when someone tries to stop using “cold turkey,” he or she not only contends with the physical effects of opiate addiction, but also the psychological effects.
For help with finding opiate addiction treatment services call 800-442-6158 Who Answers? .
What Happens When Opiate Abuse Stops?
Physical Effects
Opiate addiction breeds chemical imbalances in the brain that grow increasingly worse over time. Abruptly stopping drug use leaves the brain to pick up where opiate effects leave off in terms of supporting and maintaining the body’s functions.
The only problem is, the changes brought on by opiate abuse only allow for normal functioning when opiate effects are present. These conditions can easily drive a person back to using again. Over time, multiple relapse episodes only work to strengthen the brain’s dependency on opiates.
Psychological Effects
More than anything else, opiate addiction warps a person’s thinking, emotions and behaviors to the point where patterns of behavior start to take root. At this point, a person has come to believe he or she needs opiates to cope with daily life.
According to the National Safety Council, any attempts to stop opiate use will be met with considerable resistance in light of the mental and emotional ties the mind has to the drug. With multiple relapse events, these ties only grow stronger as the mind becomes entrenched within its need for opiate effects.
The Need for Professional Treatment Help
While a person may feel like he or she can stop using at will, the truth of the matter is this belief is but a product of opiate addiction’s effects. After so many failed attempts, and the resulting chaos and dysfunction drug use has caused, the mind’s need to keep denying a problem exists has everything to do with maintaining continued drug use. At this point, only professional treatment can help a person work through this mindset and take back control of his or her life.
If you or someone you know struggles with an opiate addiction problem and need help locating a treatment program please don’t hesitate to call our toll-free helpline at 800-442-6158 Who Answers? to speak with one of our addictions specialists.
