Opioid addiction is a significant public health crisis that affects individuals using both legal and illegal opioids. These substances, which include prescribed painkillers and illicit drugs like heroin, can lead to severe health complications when misused. This article delves into the various complications and side effects of opioid misuse, the risk of overdose, and the available help for those struggling with opioid addiction.

Complications and Side Effects From Opioid Misuse

Bowel and Stomach Issues: Opioids often cause constipation due to their effect on sensors in the intestines, slowing down gut movement. This can lead to vomiting, belly pain, heartburn, ulcers, or scar tissue in severe cases.

Heart Problems: High doses of opioids over a long period can disrupt the electrical impulses in the heart, increasing the risk of irregular heart rhythms, strokes, or sudden death.

Hypoxia: Opioids slow down breathing, which can reduce the oxygen supply to the brain (hypoxia). This condition can result in coma, brain damage, or death, particularly with strong opioids like heroin or fentanyl.

Disturbed Sleep: Misuse of opioids can cause insomnia and lead to sleep-related breathing problems like obstructive sleep apnea due to their effect on airway muscles.

Increased Pain: Over time, opioid use disorder might make individuals more sensitive to pain, a condition known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia. This paradoxical effect requires further research to understand.

Hepatitis and HIV: Injecting opioids and sharing needles can significantly increase the risk of contracting hepatitis B and C, HIV, and other blood-borne viruses.

Wounds From Needles: Frequent needle use can cause bacterial infections, abscesses (pus-filled pockets under the skin), and scarring or breakdown of veins.

Lung and Nasal Damage: Long-term opioid use can increase the risk of pneumonia and tuberculosis due to slowed breathing. Snorting or smoking opioids can damage lung or nasal tissues.

Nutritional Deficiencies: Individuals misusing opioids might neglect a healthy diet, and ongoing drug use can hinder the body’s ability to absorb essential vitamins and minerals.

Suicide: People with opioid use disorder have a higher rate of suicide than those without the disorder. Emergency help should be sought immediately if there are thoughts of self-harm.

Opioid Overdose

Although prescribed opioids are generally safe when used as directed, misuse increases the risk of severe complications, particularly when combined with other drugs like benzodiazepines. Signs of an opioid overdose include:

• Unresponsiveness or inability to wake up
• Slow or no breathing
• Extremely small pupils
• Slow or absent heartbeat
• Vomiting

Naloxone is a life-saving drug that can reverse the effects of opioids if administered quickly. It is often carried by emergency responders and can be prescribed as a nasal spray for home use.

Help for Opioid Misuse

Opioid use disorder is a treatable condition. Those struggling with addiction should seek help from a doctor. Effective treatments include medication-assisted treatment, which helps manage withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse, as well as family counselling and behavioural therapies.

Source: WebMD