Addiction Signs, Symptoms, and Outpatient Treatment

Opioids are a class of drugs that include both prescription pain medications (oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine) and street drugs (heroin) that produce relaxation and euphoria by interacting with the opioid receptors in the brain and body.[1] Some of these drugs also produce feelings of relaxation and euphoria.

Prescription opioids are often prescribed for chronic or acute pain, and when used according to a healthcare provider’s directions and for a short period of time, result in good clinical outcomes. However, misuse of opioids by taking more often than directed or increasing the dose or length of time the medicine is taken can result in the development of physical dependence.[2]

Someone’s coping skills are only as strong as their brain’s ability to regulate pain, mood, and stress. When a patient misuses an opioid, that ability is disrupted, which is the primary reason that someone who has used opioids for an extended period of time will experience withdrawal when they stop using.[3] Because of this disruption in brain function, treatment is often needed to help a patient overcome opioid dependence.

Opioid overdose poses a substantial threat to consumers of both illicit and prescription opioids due to the opioids overwhelming respiratory control. Unregulated respiration may lead to respiratory distress (slow or shallow breathing), potentially resulting in death when inadequate oxygen is supplied to the brain.[7]

Using higher doses, mixing with other substances (especially with alcohol or benzodiazepines), or any return to opioid use after a period of abstinence increases the risk of developing tolerance or continuing to use opioids.[8] Risk factors such as rapid onset and unpredictability illustrate why having access to treatment, support systems, and overdose prevention tools (like naloxone) is important for a person who uses opioids. Early intervention helps reduce the possibility of overdose while providing long-term support to promote recovery.

Outpatient opioid treatment is designed to help people manage opioid use disorder while continuing to live at home and keep up with their daily responsibilities. Rather than removing someone entirely from their environment, outpatient care emphasizes consistent therapeutic support alongside real-world recovery efforts.

Goals for treatment include decreasing cravings through building coping mechanisms and targeting behaviors contributing to illicit opioid use. Accountability provided by both clinical oversight and structured sessions adds to the benefit of being able to use skills developed during clinical treatment when navigating real-life situations.

Behavioral therapy has become an important element in the successful treatment of opioid addiction. With the assistance of behavioral therapies such as cognitive behavioral training (CBT) and dialectical behavioral training (DBT), it becomes easier for someone to not only identify patterns contributing to the use of opioids but also to learn how to develop healthier or more successful ways of coping.[9]

Support services also provide an important means of enhancing an individual’s ability to continue their recovery. They establish accountability and provide connection while navigating through the recovery process. Support services can include community-based referrals, assistance in navigating the medical system, and care coordination.

It is critical for a patient diagnosed with an opioid dependency to concurrently address any mental health issues that may exist as well. Many patients diagnosed with opioid dependence battle anxiety, depression, or PTSD, which may put them at an enhanced risk of relapse if left untreated.[10]