Living with opioid use disorder (OUD) can feel like being trapped in a cycle with no way out. Learning about the condition and the treatment options available is a powerful first step on the path to recovery. Whether you or your loved ones are affected by OUD, this guide can help you learn what causes it, how to recognize it, and how to find help and support.

What Is Opioid Use Disorder?

Opioid use disorder is a medical condition that occurs when someone has difficulty controlling their use of opioids, leading to health issues and problems in daily life at work, school, or home. Opioids include prescription pain management medications like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl, as well as illegal drugs like heroin.

It’s important to understand that OUD is a complex brain illness, not a personal failing or a choice. When someone takes opioids regularly, their brain chemistry changes, making it very difficult to stop using even when they want to.

Risk Factors

Several risk factors can increase a person’s chance of developing opioid use disorder. For example, having a personal or family history of substance use disorders can make you more likely to develop OUD. Environmental factors also play an important role — experiencing high levels of stress or trauma or living in an area where opioids are easily accessible may increase your risk.

Other risk factors for developing OUD include:

• Being prescribed opioids for more than a few days
• Starting opioid use at a young age
• Living with mental health conditions like depression or post-traumatic stress disorder
• Experiencing poverty or unemployment
• Having a history of adverse childhood experiences, such as trauma, abuse, or behavioral disorders
• Participating in thrill-seeking behavior

According to Mayo Clinic, women are also more likely to develop opioid use disorder from prescription pain relief medications than men. This may be because they are more likely to have chronic pain and to be prescribed opioids for a longer period of time.

Remember, if you have any risk factors associated with developing OUD, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will automatically develop OUD.

Signs and Symptoms

Recognizing the signs of opioid addiction is crucial for getting help early.

Behavioral Changes

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some behavioral changes common with opioid use disorder include:

• Taking higher doses of opioids or taking them for longer than originally intended
• Spending a lot of time and effort to get, use, or recover from opioids
• Being unable to cut down or control opioid use, despite wanting to
• Continuing to use opioids even if they create problems with relationships or responsibilities
• Giving up fun or social activities
• Using opioids in risky situations
• Having withdrawal symptoms when use stops

Physical Symptoms

In addition, physical symptoms of OUD can include:

• Frequent feelings of drowsiness or sedation
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Weight loss
• Recurring flu-like symptoms
• Reduced sex drive
• Poor personal hygiene
• Separation from friends and family

Diagnosis

There aren’t any tests that definitively diagnose OUD. Instead, healthcare providers diagnose OUD using 11 specific criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Depending on the number of criteria a person has, their OUD is diagnosed as mild (two or three criteria), moderate (four or five criteria), or severe (six or more criteria).

Healthcare providers diagnose opioid use disorder using criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).

During an evaluation, your doctor will typically ask about your history of opioid use and how it impacts your daily life. They may also ask about your medical history (previous injuries, hospitalizations, and surgeries) to get a sense of when you may have been prescribed opioids in the past. In addition, your doctor might do a physical exam and order laboratory tests to check your overall health and look for complications from opioid use.

Treatment Options

Opioid addiction is a chronic disease, but it’s treatable. Recovery from OUD is possible with proper treatment and support. The most effective treatment programs aim to reduce continued drug use and relapses.

Medications for Opioid Use Disorder

Medications for opioid use disorder, or MOUD, are considered the gold standard for treating OUD. Usually, these medications are combined with counseling and behavioral therapies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three medications to treat OUD:

• Methadone — Helps reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms
• Buprenorphine — Decreases withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and the effects of opioids
• Naltrexone — Stops the effects of opioids and feelings of euphoria

Counseling and Behavioral Therapies

These treatments help people better understand their relationship with opioids and develop healthy coping skills. A variety of counseling options are available.

Individual Counseling

During individual counseling sessions, you may be encouraged to discuss your goals, acknowledge your progress, and review your setbacks. You can also talk about family or legal problems with your counselor. Individual counseling typically involves behavioral therapies like:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy — Allows you to recognize negative thoughts and behaviors and learn to stop them
• Motivational enhancement therapy — Helps you increase your motivation to stay on your treatment plan
• Contingency management — Provides rewards for positive behaviors like avoiding opioid use

Group Counseling

Group counseling serves as a reminder that you are not alone in your journey. You can engage with others who are in similar situations, and you can hear about their accomplishments and setbacks. You may learn new strategies to incorporate in your own life.

Group counseling serves as a reminder that you are not alone in your journey.

Family Counseling

Family counseling is a way for your family members and loved ones to be more involved in your treatment journey. These sessions could help you improve your relationships.

Support Groups and Recovery Communities

Support groups are additional resources that can provide valuable encouragement and practical advice. Depending on your local area, some potential options could be:

• Narcotics Anonymous (NA), a peer support group that includes a 12-step recovery program for any type of substance
• SMART Recovery, a program focused on managing thoughts and behaviors surrounding addiction
• Residential programs, which offer the opportunity to live with peers in similar situations
• Local recovery community organizations and outpatient programs
• Online support communities

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a peer support group that includes a 12-step recovery program for any type of substance.

Finding Help

If you or someone you care about is living with OUD, remember that help is available.

• Talk to your healthcare provider about treatment options.
• Call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 800-662-HELP.
• Visit FindTreatment.gov to locate treatment centers near you.
• Reach out to local support groups or recovery communities.

Preventing Overdose

An overdose can occur when someone takes amounts of an opioid that their body can’t handle or takes opioids in combination with other types of drugs. If you notice any of the following signs of an opioid overdose, call 911 and seek emergency help immediately:

• Slowed breathing
• Loss of consciousness
• Small pupils in the eyes
• Vomiting
• Pale or blue skin that is cold to the touch
• Purple fingernails or lips
• Limp body
• Gurgling sounds or choking

Naloxone (sold under several brand names including the nasal sprays Narcan, Rezenopy, and Kloxxado, and the injectable solution Zimhi) can be used to stop potential overdoses. This lifesaving medication immediately blocks opioids from working and helps return breathing to normal. It’s a safe medication that can be used even if someone isn’t experiencing an overdose.

Moving Forward

While living with opioid use disorder presents significant challenges, recovery is possible with proper treatment and support. Remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Whether you’re dealing with OUD yourself or supporting someone who has it, there are many resources and communities ready to help you on your journey to recovery.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyDepressionTeam is the social network for people with depression and other mental health disorders and their loved ones. On MyDepressionTeam, more than 150,000 members diagnosed with depression and other mental illnesses come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand.

Are you or a loved one living with opioid use disorder? Have you found treatment helpful? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.