Although many people use the terms “opioids” and “opiates” interchangeably, they actually refer to different things. Opioids are chemical compounds that are synthesized or manufactured in the lab. Opiates are substances extracted or refined naturally from plant parts such as poppy sap and fibers. The distinction is between natural and synthetic. Heroin, for example, is classified as an opiate drug because it is made from morphine, a derivative product from the seeds of poppy plants.

It is important to note the commonalities and distinctions. For example, both opioids and opiates can be used medically as painkillers. They are also referred to as “narcotics” (sleep-inducing). Many prescription opioids (such as oxycodone, oxymorphone, and fentanyl) can block pain signals between the brain and the body. Meanwhile, they also make people feel relaxed or happy. Due to their euphoric effects, opioids are highly addictive. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) categorizes natural opiates (such as opium, morphine, codeine, and thebaine) as one sub-category under opioids.

Opioid Addiction

People who use opioids and opiates can develop dependence in a relatively short period of time, often in two weeks. They function similarly in the body by binding to receptors in the brain’s central nervous system to boost pleasure and block pain signals, causing a sensation of euphoria. Both opioids and opiates can also be used illicitly, making them very accessible among teens and young people.

People who use opioids or opiates have a high risk of overdose, which happens when they take too high a dose and poison the body. It is widely known that opioid overdoses can be deadly. The signs of opioid or opiates overdose include vomiting, loss of speech, loss of consciousness, slow breathing, limp body, and skin turning blue or gray. For the past few years, opioids have become the leading cause of overdose deaths.

Stabilization and Maintenance

Although people who use opioids can develop an addiction quickly and experience severe withdrawal symptoms, it is still a treatable disease. To recover, they need medically monitored detoxification and a long-term prevention plan. The latter is critical because a large proportion of people who complete detox treatment for opioid use may relapse within a few months. When relapses happen, the chance of overdose is high. Therefore, it is crucial to focus on a long-term plan when treating someone with opioid use disorder.

The medical community has developed a wider range of available pharmacological tools for treatment compared with other drugs. However, the most challenging part is still to get people who use opioids to accept treatment. For example, the large majority of millions of opioid users in the United States are not receiving treatment. Among those who do accept treatment and complete detoxification, many experience relapse in the early recovery stage.

Long-term treatment methods using agonists such as methadone and buprenorphine face many obstacles such as government regulations and cost. On top of all these is social stigma.

Prevention Is as Important as Intervention

If you or a loved one is considering opioids as a painkiller option, it is important to get informed about the addictive effects and explore alternative options. In the United States, opioids are commonly prescribed for pain management. Even among health professionals, the prevention of opioid pain medication use has not been wide-reaching. Scientific research has identified high-risk prescribing practices among health care providers contributing to the ongoing opioid epidemic. These include high-dose prescribing, overlapping opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions, and extended-release opioids.

To prevent and reverse the damaging cycle of opioid misuse, society needs to pay more attention to this epidemic. Take school-based health programs, for example. School-based prevention and education can effectively inform youth and families about the risk and accessibility of opioids, either through prescription or illicit trade, in the community. Many teens had access to opioids after athletic injuries.

There needs to be a strong protective system at the community level with strong parent and peer disapproval of opioid use. Research has shown that having a stronger school bond can also serve as a protective factor. Proper medication use and refusal skills can be integrated into classroom education as a prevention strategy.

Some collaborative efforts between community prevention organizations and schools have been proven successful. The former group provides resources and a framework for action to schools. They also connect schools to local events with the goal of educating staff and students. In sum, because the opioid epidemic is an ongoing and complex public health issue with no simple solution, there need to be collaborative efforts to catalyze change for the most vulnerable groups, especially youth.

Are you worried about a loved one developing opioid dependency? People who use opioids and opiates can develop dependence in a relatively short period of time. The fact that both opioids and opiates can also both be used illicitly makes them very accessible among teens and young people. You should work with health professionals to intervene early. At Capo Canyon Recovery, near Mission Viejo, CA., we believe in a holistic, incremental path to sustainable and long-term recovery. Our trained health care professionals have experience treating all severities of opioid addiction. We know what treatment is required, both in terms of physical health and mental health. You can benefit from both our inpatient residential care and outpatient long-term care programs. With Capo Canyon Recovery, you can rely on us to help you achieve long-term sobriety. We coach clients to cope with upcoming challenges. Start the journey with our experienced recovery experts today. Call us at (800) 804-8714.

The first dual diagnosis was identified in the 1980s among individuals with co-existing substance use disorders and mental health disorders. In the field of addiction recovery, a dual diagnosis is also known as a dual disorder or co-occurring disorder. This refers to a person having both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder. Because these two conditions can heighten or worsen each other’s symptoms, it is often difficult to diagnose which developed first or had the most impact.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), around 17 million Americans experience both substance use disorder and mental health disorders simultaneously. Both conditions may seriously jeopardize a person’s normal functioning in life. If untreated, the dual diagnosis can even become life-threatening.

Symptoms of Dual Diagnosis

Depending on the substance a person is addicted to and the specific mental health disorder they are struggling with, there can be many combinations of dual diagnoses. Their symptoms can vary, but they can include some common behavioral patterns. These include:

• Dependency on drugs and alcohol to function
• Withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit
• Alienation of family and friends
• Risky behaviors
• Compulsion
• Deception and lying
• Anxiety and depression
• Sudden mood changes
• Suicidal attempts

Take alcohol addiction, for example. Common dual diagnoses include alcohol addiction and a range of co-occurring mental health disorders such as anxiety disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, and schizophrenia. Because of the difficulties around detecting symptoms of these various illnesses, a dual diagnosis can be hard to pin down. It is not always clear whether a client is under the influence of substances or has a mental illness. Medical professionals need to find the root causes to treat a dual diagnosis.

Why Do Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Disorders Co-Occur?

The causal relationship between a co-occurrence can be complicated. First, both disorders can come from shared risk factors, such as genetics, trauma, and stress. Secondly, mental health disorders can often contribute to the onset of substance use disorder because people use drugs and alcohol to self-medicate. When addictive habits form, mental health disorders may condition the brain to turn these habits into an addictive lifestyle.

The causal loop can also work the other way around. Substance use disorder may also contribute to the development of a mental illness. The former can change and rewire the neurological pathways in the human brain. Long-term and repetitive substance use can cause anxiety, depression, and stress-related environmental triggers.

Treatment After Dual Diagnosis

Someone who has been given a dual diagnosis should be treated for both conditions. For the overall treatment to be effective, one not only needs to stop using drugs and alcohol, but their mental health disorders also need to be treated. Otherwise, the presence of mental health issues can pose a high risk for relapse even after one achieves short-term sobriety.

A dual diagnosis requires a holistic or integrated treatment plan that cares for both the body and the mind. The client needs to receive care for both their substance addiction and their diagnosed mental illness. It is the mandate of a dual diagnosis that both conditions are treated simultaneously. This often involves inpatient detoxification, medications, psychotherapy, support groups, and aftercare.

It is essential to know that those with a dual diagnosis are considered high-risk clients. Because of the complexity of these conditions, it can be challenging to treat them for long-term recovery effectively. Moreover, not many treatment facilities are adequately equipped to handle clients with dual diagnoses. Effective treatment requires a facility with in-house psychiatric staff and mental health experts specializing in dual diagnosis and treatment.

The Importance of Integrated Treatment

Facilities that offer integrated treatment for dual diagnosis tend to have more extensive programs that provide various psychotherapeutic interventions. Their goal is long-term recovery, and they are open to inspiration-based treatment methods. Staff at these facilities also focus on community outreach, and they try to build a strong support system for clients.

Complex difficulties facing treating dual diagnosis clients include backsliding, hospitalization, and other co-existing diseases such as HIV or Hepatitis C. Facilities specializing in treating dual diagnoses factor these in. As a result, they often proceed at a specific rate, making programs highly individualized. Sometimes clients with a dual diagnosis also need options such as trauma-informed care and gender-specific programs.

Integrated dual diagnosis treatment often involves an interdisciplinary team, including social workers, psychotherapists, counselors, medical staff, and case managers. Each of them needs to understand what dual diagnosis means and what treatment is required. Take social workers, for example. They benefit from understanding how comorbidity increases the severity of all conditions and aim for better intervention.

If you or a loved one struggles with both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder, it is best to seek professional help that treats both conditions simultaneously. Because these two conditions can heighten or worsen each other’s symptoms, it is often difficult to diagnose which developed first or had the most impact. At Capo Canyon Recovery, we have experience treating dual diagnoses and designing treatment plans around them. Near Mission Viejo, CA, our treatment center is a complete medical facility. You can benefit from our inpatient residential care and outpatient long-term care programs. We also provide a comfortable environment to facilitate clients’ recovery. With an in-house chef, luxurious beds, and an onsite organic garden, we’re here to help you no matter what kind of dual diagnosis you may be struggling with. You do not need to struggle alone. For more information on our program, call Capo Canyon Recovery today at (800) 804-8714.

Alcohol is distributed around your body by your blood as you drink and even the smallest amount can have a physiological effect. You’ll lose a small amount of alcohol as it leaves your body in your breath and urine but your tolerance will depend heavily on how much you’ve had to eat. Food that is high in fat slows down the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream and it will take longer to feel intoxicated although there are other, more damaging effects of alcohol on your overall health to take into consideration. 

Substance abuse is an issue that impacts people’s lives in very different ways. For this reason, there is no one approach to rehab, which includes the decision of whether to remain at home in outpatient care or reside at the facility in an inpatient addiction treatment program. Here are some of the basic differences between outpatient and inpatient care to help you decided which is for you.

Addiction is an illness that leaves many people withdrawn and isolated from their loved ones and family. One of the main characteristics of addiction is that people will continue to use drugs even when their lives are falling apart. Although it can be very difficult taking the first step towards treatment, there are numerous reasons why entering rehab very often saves lives.

Addiction is a complex illness that is made so because of the damage drugs do to the brain. Substances create the pleasant effects people seek by making chemical changes in the brain, some of which can result in long-term mental health problems. There is a strong correlation with substance abuse and mental illness and yet many people are unaware of the dangers of long-term substance abuse.

There is a very strong relationship between addiction and mental health. Some people use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate the symptoms of a mental illness such as PTSD or depression, whereas others develop the symptoms as a direct result of substance abuse

Alcohol or drug abuse during pregnancy increases your risk of stillbirth or miscarriage. When you consider that a proportion of everything you consume passes through you to your unborn child it is not difficult to imagine that there are many other negative consequences. The effect of alcohol abuse on pregnancy is harm to both mother and unborn child.

Addiction to sleeping pills or other sedatives is an increasing problem in America. More people than ever are turning to medications to help them get a good night’s sleep, most of which are available over-the-counter. However, it is very easy to develop problems with sleeping pills that can spiral into addiction if the warning signs are ignored. Here we take a closer look at how addiction to sleeping pills develops and how it can be treated.

Despite our better understanding of addiction, there are still many people holding on to misconceptions about what classifies a person as an addict. This is for a variety of reasons including the negative way addiction is covered by mainstream media and its connection with a loss of moral control. In fact, addiction is an illness that develops over time. In this article, we take a look at the difference between a person who abuses substances from time to time and someone who developed addiction illness.