A GROWING SCOURGE
Perhaps your friend or family member hasn’t been picking up the phone when you call, or isn’t texting you back. When you do manage to catch up with them, they are moodier than normal. They seem distant, with nothing much to say. Maybe they seem nervous. They look different too — down more than a few pounds.
Could your loved one have an addiction? There is a strong possibility, and you shouldn’t ignore your instincts. The opioid epidemic is sweeping the nation, affecting people from all walks of life.
More than two million Americans were abusing prescription opioids or heroin in 2015, according to the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Opioids were involved in more than 33,000 deaths in 2015, and opioid overdoses have quadrupled since 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.
The growing opioid crisis has been making headlines for the past few years, yet many people struggling with opioid addiction appear to be “normal” and not the typical image of a strung-out junkie looking for their next fix — parents overdosing in front of their children or young athletes dying from heroin overdoses have recently been in the news.
When it comes to opioid abuse, “People have to rid themselves of the idea of ‘not my son’ or ‘not my daughter,’” says Dr. Randall Dwenger, medical director at Mountainside Treatment Center.
If your friend or family member is addicted to an opioid — painkillers such as Oxycontin and Vicodin, or illicit drugs like heroin or fentanyl — would you know the signs if you saw them? They may be hard to notice, unless you are looking for them. They include an opioid user:
• staying away from family activities or withdrawing from friends;
• suddenly more accident-prone because addiction can cause poor coordination; • refilling painkiller prescriptions more frequently than normal;
• having small, “pinpoint pupils” even in dim lighting;
• wearing longsleeved clothing, even in warm weather, to hide intravenous drug use;
• being unable to focus and nodding off;
• showing increasing levels of secrecy;
• neglecting to groom or care about their appearance.
If you suspect someone you know is struggling with a possible opioid addiction, you should encourage them to seek professional help and be prepared to assist them in getting treatment.
It’s nearly impossible to end an addiction independently, and those with a problem should find an addiction treatment center where care is customized to meet the needs of the addicted person, Dr. Dwenger says.
“A program that has a holistic view of health and incorporates exercise, nutrition, complementary therapies such as acupuncture and meditation — in addition to psychotherapy, medication-assisted treatment and counseling — is the most beneficial,” he says.
“It works towards healing the whole person — mind, body, and spirit.” Source: drugabuse.gov