When you are trying to lookout for an opiate addict, it might not be as hard as it seems. Unlike other addictions, opiate has this obvious vibe around the addicts. There are withdrawal symptoms as the addict has been trying to control or hasn’t had an opportunity to take his dose. This pushes them to the extent of social margins there is lack of responsibility towards anything and everything. When pain killers become candies, it’s time to take away the kid’s candy. There isn’t any specific way you can find out but you can keep an eye on your loved ones. Here’s a guide to understanding opiate addiction better.
- Mood swings/ psychological symptoms:
The most obvious ones are the changes in behavioral pattern as they are easy to spot. Increased irritability, sudden depression or general anxiety are the basics. A person with opiate addiction can have many folds of psychological changes. Anxiety attacks are very prevalent and anti-anxiety tranquilizers don’t help; instead increase the need.
- Physical symptoms:
These are another easily spottable symptoms. A person with a considerable amount of substance abuse, especially opiate addict is bound to undergo physical changes. There are changes like increased energy and heart rate, improved alertness, high blood pressure, decreased appetite, over arousal, sleeping disorder and hyper-vigilance. These are pretty harmful as not sleeping and eating can do long term damage which has a lasting effect. The drug cycle kills a man way before time. It effects the body in a bad way and the lasting effect does no good.
- Behavioral Symptoms:
These are another kinds of symptoms though an addict at times can be great at hiding things. The lack of awareness and social stigma has made it almost impossible for a person to be able to open up about his issues. There are times when an addict is aware of his/her condition and needs help but the prejudices bind him from speaking up. Precisely why they introduced art therapy, so that a person gains confidence before being thrown in front of strangers. There are symptoms like avoiding social and personal responsibilities, the air of unease and always looking for something.
- Overdose:
When you find a friend or a loved one trying to overdose a medicine or taking medicines that were not prescribed, it’s an alarm and you should take charge. The need to stop the pain and give your brain a certain high is where it all starts. And before a person can realize it, he’s totally in the jaws of opiate addiction. What feels right in the beginning is actually a signal that you need to seek help instead of overdosing.
There is a dire need to look into such matters as most of the times, its children and young adults who are involved. You can start with an intervention; followed by therapies and experts consultants. The most important thing is to help them through withdrawal as this is the time they are more likely to relapse. Lookout for people you care about and don’t leave them to deal with it alone.