The United States’ opioid epidemic is still ongoing. AION Health has found signs of Opioids addicts in approximately 80% of people.
Why Is Heroin So Dangerous?
The modern American heroin supply is so dangerous because it often contains fentanyl or other novel psychoactive opioids. These drugs are much stronger than heroin. Considering that these unregulated substances aren’t tested, labeled, or mixed properly, illicit opioid users are highly prone to overdose.
While nobody should ever force someone who might be addicted to opioids to do things against their will, even talking to a loved one about their potential opioid use could improve their long-term outcome. That’s why spotting signs of Opioids addicts early-stage is important.
Keep in mind that these symptoms aren’t surefire, definitive signs of opioid addiction. However, when found together, opioid use could be present.
Legal Problems
Although this isn’t a clinical symptom, legal problems are common among people who battle opioid addiction. Direct legal consequences of opioid use include charges like possession of drug paraphernalia, drug possession, and DUI.
Non-drug-related charges may also result from opioid use. For example, someone who uses opioids may be caught stealing something to fund their drug habit and be charged for theft.
Mood Changes
People who deal with opioid addiction may exhibit mood changes. Oftentimes, when someone with opioid use disorder is high, they seem happier or more outgoing than they otherwise would.
Some people are good at controlling the effect of drugs on their moods. Opioids might not substantially affect some users’ moods. When not explained by a formal bipolar disorder diagnosis, opioids could be at fault for mood changes.
The Presence of Blood-Borne Diseases
HIV is a lifelong disease known for causing autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). It’s transmitted by blood, breast milk, semen, and vaginal, rectal, and pre-seminal fluids. Although HIV is often transmitted by sexual contact, sharing hypodermic syringes is a common vector of the disease.
Hepatitis C is another common blood-borne disease frequently transmitted by sharing used needles. It’s transmitted in similar ways to HIV.
Finding out about a loved one’s hepatitis C or HIV status can be difficult. People in active opioid addiction are unlikely to divulge this information to others, even loved ones.
Existing Mental Health Diagnoses
The majority of people who are addicted to opioids have co-occurring mental health disorders. Although most people with mental health disorders won’t use opioids, the risk of addiction is higher among people with mental health issues.
Attempting to treat addiction without addressing these underlying, co-occurring mental health diagnoses is short-sighted, although treatment for substance use disorder and other mental health disorders can go hand-in-hand.
Bad Decision-Making
This is one of the most common symptoms of opioid addiction. People may be surprised to learn that bad decision-making is exhibited by even the most intelligent opioid addicts. Minor matters shouldn’t be considered as part of this symptom. Rather, only consider major life decisions in this determination. Examples include occupational, familial, and spousal issues.
Again, these symptoms can be exhibited by anyone. Pressuring someone to come clean about their drug use could strain relationships, ultimately hurting everyone involved. However, these five signs are often exhibited by people with opioid addiction.
