Coping with Fibromyalgia Pain: From Prescription Painkillers to Alternative Pain Management
Although more than 5 million American adults suffer from fibromyalgia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, scientists still do not know what causes this disorder. Fibromyalgia is a common source of chronic pain and disability that causes many patients to have difficulty managing work and other daily activities. Although prescription opiates are […]
Effects of Opiate Dependence and Abuse on the Learning and Memory Pathways in the Brain
One of the reasons that opiates are so powerful is that they bind to special receptors in the brain, stimulating a cascade of events that changes the actual structure of brain pathways. Over time, repeated use of opiates such as heroin or prescription painkillers fundamentally alters the brain circuits associated with learning and memory. This […]
How Personality Factors May Impact Treatment for Opiate Dependence
Medical professionals who treat opiate dependence have long recognized the relationship between drug addiction and mental health. In fact, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 8.9 million Americans currently suffer from a substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health problem. Much of the research and clinical focus in this area […]
Opioid Painkillers Increase the Chances of Birth Defects and Pregnancy Complications
Opiate use among reproductive-age women is disturbingly high, especially given the documented risks that these drugs pose to a developing fetus. As many women don’t learn of a pregnancy until well into the first trimester, it is questionable whether those in their childbearing years should even be prescribed opiate painkillers. Recent studies have revealed the […]
Impact of Opiate Dependence on Vascular Health
What is the impact of opiate dependence on vascular health? Prolonged opiate use can have profound effects on emotional and psychological health, but it also negatively impacts physical well-being. Although the primary site of action of opiates is in the brain, opiates also lead to changes in several body systems. Most prominent among these is the […]
How Opioid Addiction Affect Sleep
Opioid addiction affects millions of Americans, and the chronic use of heroin and prescription opiate painkillers can seriously disrupt the sleep of the user. In order to experience overall mental health and well-being, it is vitally important to receive sufficient uninterrupted sleep on a nightly basis. If someone is struggling with an opioid addiction, disrupted […]
Long Term Opiate Use May Negatively Affect Mood and Cognition
No matter what method a person uses to take opiates, chemicals from the drug reach the brain within seconds. These chemicals cross the protective blood-brain barrier and bind to receptors on brain cells. As a result of this binding, a cascade of chemical events causes euphoria and other short-term effects of taking opiates. However, these […]
How Stigma Perpetuates Problems With Opiate Dependence and Hinders Treatment
Decades ago, people whispered the word “cancer” and were afraid to publicly acknowledge they had the dreaded disease. Although cancer has moved into the limelight, other diseases like addiction remain heavily stigmatized. Experts in addiction research believe this is unfortunate, because it reinforces the idea that addiction happens to those who are “weak” or lack […]
Motivating a Loved One to Seek Treatment for Opiate Abuse
Although the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Association estimates that 23.5 million people in the United States need treatment for drug or alcohol abuse, only 11.2% receive professional help. Unfortunately, one of the biggest barriers to seeking treatment is fear or denial. Individuals suffering from opiate dependency often feel ashamed of or frightened by their […]
Alarming Rise in Heroin Deaths Linked to Opiate Painkiller Prescriptions
A recent report issued by the National Center for Health Statistics reveals an alarming increase in heroin-related deaths between the years of 2010 and 2013. Even more shocking, the study suggests a strong correlation between the spike and the increase in patients being prescribe opioid-based medications. These numbers validate the need to reduce the opiate […]
