What we know about opium addiction

The highly addictive narcotic drug opium is derived from the seed pod of the opium poppy. Slicing open the unripened pod of the plant allows the sap to leak out and then dry to a latex-like consistency that is yellow-brown in color and extremely better tasting. This sap contains a mixture of several alkaloids including codeine, morphine, papaverine, and thebaine. These alkaloids have the tendency to build up in your system and remain there for 24 to 48 hours. Opium produces a feeling of euphoria and pleasure when using it.

Common signs of overdose and withdrawal

When an individual undergoes opium addiction treatment and recovery, the initial stage (detox) can be a very uncomfortable one as unpleasant withdrawal symptoms normally arise. Overdose and withdrawal symptoms include:

•  cold and clammy skin
• coma
• confusion
• dizziness
• loss of consciousness
• seizures
• slow breathing
• small pupils
• tiredness
• weakness

Certain medications are administered during the individual’s time in detox such as Buprenorphine, Methadone, and Naloxone to ease the person’s pain and suffering while enabling them to be comfortable and rest.

The three sequences or stages of opium addiction

Unlike some other drugs, when you continually use opium, addiction is inevitable with both physical and psychological dependencies occurring in conjunction with one another. There are three different sequences of events or stages that occur as opium addiction takes hold of a person. They are as follows:

• Physical dependence – this occurs once your body has become used to opium being there and once your body adapts to using it in order to function on a daily basis. When opium use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal occurs and exhibits certain symptoms including anxiety, back pain, crying, elevated blood pressure, muscle spasms, rapid pulse, restlessness, runny nose, and yawning.
• Tolerance – when your body acclimates to a certain amount of opium being ingested, you need to take increasingly larger amounts of it in order to achieve the desired effect or get high. This is known as tolerance and the level of it will vary from one individual to the next.
• Psychological dependence – this becomes evident once you start craving more and more of the drug to get that euphoric effect it provides. The longer you are dependent on opium, the more difficult it is to overcome the addiction.