Opiates vs Opioids: What’s The Difference?

The Difference Between Opioids and Opiates

Similar to other types of substance abuse, opioid addiction is something that could take over your life and ultimately take your life if your opioid use disorder becomes too severe or you suffer from an opioid overdose. Unfortunately, substances such as morphine and codeine are commonly abused by people who were first exposed to these substances in order to treat pain or because their substance abuse has developed to the point where a person may be looking for a stronger substance in order to maintain their addiction. However, there is a key difference between opioids and opiates. 

It’s important to understand that an opiate or opioids are both used for medical purposes. In most cases, prescription opioids are prescribed to a person who is experiencing chronic pain and needs a way to manage this discomfort. The problem is that taking an opiate or opioid can lead to serious drug addiction. So what is the key difference between these two substances? The answer is in the way that an opiate or opioid is made. 

Drugs such as morphine and codeine are considered to be opiates due to the fact that they are derived from the opium plant. Therefore, it’s not synthesized. However, there was a noticeable uptick in the opioid crisis as a result of the development of opioids which are considered to be synthetic opioids. Synthetic opioids can certainly come with their own set of dangers. 

One of the leading reasons why so many people fall into the trap of the opioid crisis is the feeling of euphoria and pain-relieving effects that they experience as a result of consuming an opiate or opioid. This drug addiction is serious and it is not something that should be taken lightly. If you find yourself taking prescription opioids after the time that you have been prescribed them and are dependent on them on a daily basis, then it’s time for you to reach out for help to overcome your drug addiction and take back your life. 

Risks of Abusing Prescription Drugs

Although there are several benefits associated with using prescription medication during the time that you’re healing from an injury or if you’re experiencing chronic pain, using this type of medication does not come without risks. It’s imperative that you are upfront and completely honest when it comes to the extent of your prescription drug use so that your doctor can monitor and track it. These medications are highly addictive within a short period of time and they are not meant to be taken indefinitely. Over and above developing an addiction, your addiction could easily lead to an accidental drug overdose or other health consequences. 

Rehab treatment For Opioids

When you’re ready to address your opioid use disorder and learn more about opioids vs opiates and the damage that these medications can have on your central nervous system, you need to partner with a recovery center that can provide you with the care and support that you need to take back control over your life and avoid a possible overdose death. Addiction treatments should always be personalized to suit your needs with the understanding that drug addiction impacts every person differently. Once you complete a detox program, you will be able to commit to inpatient addiction treatments or an outpatient treatment program. 

An inpatient addiction treatment program gives you the opportunity to live on the campus of your treatment facility of choice. This allows you to receive the help and care that you may need during this stage of your recovery around the clock. This safe and sober environment also helps you to take the time that you need to truly focus on yourself and the changes that you need to make during your recovery journey. One of the best things about inpatient addiction treatment, however, is the fact that you will be able to interact with other people who are working through their own treatment programs. Addiction can easily make you feel as though you’re completely alone in what you’re thinking and what you’re experiencing. During inpatient treatment, you will be able to make connections and develop relationships with other people who are working through their own addiction treatment programs which can help you to feel stronger in your decisions to overcome your substance abuse. 

Of course, inpatient treatment is not the only addiction treatment that you will have when you commit to a recovery program. There are many people who simply don’t feel comfortable committing to an inpatient treatment program. There are many other people who cannot commit to an addiction treatment program because of work or school responsibilities. If you fall into this category, you would greatly benefit from an outpatient treatment program. An outpatient program such as an intensive outpatient program or a general outpatient treatment plan offers much more flexibility in comparison to an inpatient treatment program. You will be able to come and go from the treatment facility according to your treatment plan and your recovery team will continuously check in with you to ensure that you are still on the right path. 

Regardless of whether you choose to commit to an inpatient treatment program or an outpatient one, the focus of your time in treatment will be to determine the root cause of your addiction. The root cause of addiction is different for every person. For instance, it’s possible that you may have experienced a traumatic event during your childhood that still impacts you today. There is also a chance that you may have experienced something during your adulthood that made you more prone to developing a serious addiction. The way that you can determine the root cause of addiction and overcome it is through addiction therapy. While it’s true that therapy can feel awkward and uncomfortable at times, it is the only way that you will be able to come to peace with these traumatic events in your life. Here are some examples of the addiction therapy that you may experience during the time that you’re in addiction treatment: 

The type of therapy and what you will experience on a day-to-day basis is a process that you will work to develop with your recovery team. During individual therapy and at other points during your treatment, your recovery team will check in with you to ensure that you’re still on the right path when it comes to your treatment. If any adjustments or changes need to be made during that time, your treatment team will do so. 

Opioid Detox: What Is It Like?

Before you can begin your substance abuse treatment program, it’s possible that you may first need to go through an opioid or an opiate detox program. Opioid drugs are highly addictive and, as a result, a person will likely experience withdrawal symptoms which will make it all but impossible for that person to properly care for themselves during this period of time. Opiate withdrawal typically lasts approximately seven days with the worst of your withdrawal symptoms developing within the first seven days of your time in an opiate detox program. If you commit to detox from opioid drugs, it’s recommended that you locate a recovery center that provides a medically assisted detox as they will be able to provide you with medication that will help you to better manage your opiate withdrawal. For instance, a medically assisted detox will account for any ways that your treatment team needs to relieve pain and assist with your cravings or the severe symptoms that you may experience during the time that you’re in opiate withdrawal. 

Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms

One of the most dangerous aspects of opioid withdrawal symptoms is the fact that there is no way to predict which withdrawal symptoms you will experience during the time that you’re detoxing. Opioid withdrawal symptoms can vary and can include: 

Any one of these symptoms can make it all but impossible for you to properly care for yourself. To ensure that you receive the important help and care that you need during this stage of your recovery, it’s imperative that you surround yourself with individuals who will care for you the way that you need during this phase of your treatment journey. 

Treatment for Opioid and Opiate Addiction at Resurgence Behavioral health

As one of the best treatment centers, the treatment team at Resurgence Behavioral Health makes ourselves readily available to not only provide our clients with the explanations regarding the difference between opiates and opioids as well as access to the opioid abuse treatment that a person may need to overcome their addiction once and for all. We will take into account the chronic pain that you may be experiencing and help you to manage this discomfort as well as the circumstances of your addiction. To commit to an addiction treatment program, please get in touch with us today at (855) 458-0050.