Over 60,000 people die annually from opioid-related overdoses. If you have a loved one who is struggling with an opioid addiction, you may wonder if the opioid crisis will ever end. While the government is taking steps to help combat this crisis, the most important thing is that your loved one gets help. Understanding causes of addiction can aid you in helping your loved one get the treatment he or she needs.
The Origin of the Opioid Crisis
Many of us are raised to believe that when we’re dealing with any type of issue, a pill can solve it. The United States prescribes over 80% of the world’s opioid supply because we use so many medications to treat pain.
The opioid crisis began in the early 2000s when pharmaceutical companies marketed OxyContin as a non-addictive pain medication. It didn’t take long for people to begin losing everything because they developed an addiction to the medication.
Some of the other forms of opioids include:
- Codeine
- Hydrocodone
- Dilaudid
- Fentanyl
The Progression of the Opioid Crisis
When most people think of addiction to opioids, they often think of heroin, but this isn’t the start of the problem. Most people who develop a heroin addiction started off using opioid medications. This is why it’s crucial for people to get help for their prescription drug addiction as soon as possible. People progress to heroin because it’s a cheaper, more powerful opioid.
Not many people start abusing prescription opioids with the plan of eventually using heroin. The progression to heroin typically happens because the person can no longer get prescriptions for the medications they want. When a person begins to go through opioid withdrawal or have an increased tolerance, he or she will finally try heroin.
Getting Help for Your Loved One
Trying to get your loved one to get help may seem difficult, but the reality is that most people want to get clean. Although the person may not act like it, most people with an addiction want to make a change but feel hopeless in doing so. Addiction treatment can help your loved one on the path of recovery and allow him or her to live a more productive life. The best thing you can do is have an intervention with your loved one to see if he or she is willing to get help.
If your loved one is ready to begin a new life, Ashley Addiction Treatment is here to help. Our onsite detox program can help your loved one safely get through withdrawal symptoms. From there, each of our clients goes through treatment methods to learn how to deal with life on life’s terms without the use of drugs. We offer:
Help your loved one take the first step to recovery. Call Ashley Addiction Treatment today at 866-313-6307.