For all the good they can do, opioid drugs have quickly become a black eye on American society. When used properly, prescription painkillers can give patients great relief from their pain issues. Even the dangerous drug fentanyl has benefits when used properly. Unfortunately, opioids have become a favorite among recreational drug users who want and need the euphoria these drugs offer.
The titled question poses an interesting consideration for people who are trying to decide if any of the opioid options are more addictive than the others. To get right to the point, all opioids are highly addictive when used improperly. In fact, they are also addictive even when used as a doctor might prescribe. Of course, doctors don’t prescribe heroin.
As far as which opioid substances can create the worst addiction problems, the answer would have to be fentanyl for one very distinct reason. Fentanyl is many times more potent than heroin. The problem that creates is a lot of drug users don’t know that. That exposes them to the potential of a drug overdose. It as creates the potential for the accumulation of residual fentanyl in the body, which can easily become poisonous.
Even after proclaiming that addiction to fentanyl is very dangerous, we still want to stress that any opioid addiction should be considered dangerous. In the sections below, we are going to discuss the ways fentanyl can be dangerous. It is our hope that offering this information might sway opioid users to walk away from opioids before it is too late.
The Dangers of Opioid Abuse
While fentanyl is a recent newcomer to the recreational drug-using community, heroin and painkiller abuse has been a significant issue in America for decades. After all of these years, no one has been able to come up with a solution for the drug abuse problem. Without solutions, it leaves the addiction treatment community as the only beacon of hope in the battle against opioid abuse.
There are three primary dangers associated with opioid abuse: the drugs are highly addictive, they destroy lives, and they can easily cause overdoses.
Opioids are Highly Addictive
Opioids create what drug users call euphoria. What these drugs actually do is anesthetize the body to the point the user feels nothing physically or emotionally. They are essentially disconnected from their humanity. For a drug user with significant problems, opioids offer a great temporary escape from reality.
Once opioid addiction takes hold, only bad things will happen. Before discussing the ways opioids destroy lives, we want to discuss the dangers associated with opioid withdrawal.
When someone is addicted to an opioid substance, they have two choices. They can continue using, risking further life deterioration, or they can stop using. The problem with deciding to stop using is it puts opioid addicts at the mercy of withdrawal symptoms, some of which can be very dangerous. As a case in point, here is a shortlist of opioid withdrawal symptoms:
- Breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate problems
- Body tremores and convulsions
- Hallucinations and nightmares
- Onset of psychological issues like suicide ideology, depression, and anxiety
- Nausea, vomiting, and severe stomach cramping
Opioids Destroy Lives
In an addictive state, drug users are subject to a lot of physical and behavioral problems. The physical problems can include heart issues, dental issues, sleeping problems, loss of appetite, and the potential for an overdose, which we will discuss below.
The behavioral issues associated with opioid addiction include loss of personal relationships, problems at work and school, problems with law enforcement, and an inability to handle basic responsibilities like paying bills or maintaining acceptable hygiene.
Potential of Overdose
Each person metabolizes opioids differently. What might be a safe dose for one person could be toxic to another person. That creates the tremendous potential for an overdose. As we mentioned above, that’s why fentanyl is so dangerous. The way the drug is being cut and marketed leaves drug users not knowing how much they are taking. For now, fentanyl has become the worst drug menace the U.S. has ever encountered.
If you are addicted to any opioid substance, you are at risk. We want you to strongly consider reaching out for help. We are here to offer you that help when you are ready. If you will allow us to treat you for your opioid addiction, you can reach out and contact one of our presentations at 855-936-4435. They are available 24/7/365.
