Opioid abuse and addiction can occur to anyone regardless of the amount or frequency of use. Often individuals have no intention of becoming dependent or of even using opioids to get a ‘high.’ Rather, because of the drug’s potency and effects on the brain, they inadvertently become addicted. This leads individuals to seek out more of the drug or even substitutes for it. Thus, opioid use needs to be closely monitored. This is especially true for those taking prescription opioids. However, many don’t understand just how opioids affect brain chemistry causing dependence.

Addiction is a disease. It occurs when the brain becomes reliant upon an outside source for vital chemical processes. Dependent or addicted individuals experience irresistible cravings. These lead individuals to make compulsive and often dangerous decision to continue using the drug. Just like healing from any other bodily disease, an individual experiencing opioid use disorder or addiction needs professional treatment and sometimes medication. Because opioids target powerful reward or pleasure centers of the brain, they are highly addictive.

When an individual takes opioids, the drug binds and activates neurotransmitters in the brain. These handle the creation and release of such pleasure-giving chemicals like dopamine. The prescription purpose of opioids is to block pain signals sent from the brain. Thus, they release large quantities of dopamine. The longer an individual takes opioids, the more the brain becomes accustomed to the drug being responsible for this chemical process. Therefore, when an individual stops taking the opioids they can experience withdrawal as the brain attempts to make up for the sudden loss. Some common symptoms of opioid withdrawal include: