Opioid Use Disorder

Physical and psychological reliance on opioids, a substance found in certain prescription pain medications and illegal drugs like heroin.

Opioids are prescribed to treat pain. With prolonged use, pain-relieving effects may lessen and pain can become worse. In addition, the body can develop dependence. Opioid dependence causes withdrawal symptoms, which makes it difficult to stop taking them. Addiction occurs when dependence interferes with daily life. Taking more than the prescribed amount or using illegal opioids like heroin may result in death.

Symptoms of addiction include uncontrollable cravings and inability to control opioid use even though it’s having negative effects on personal relationships or finances.

Treatment varies but may include discontinuing the drug. Medications such as methadone can help alleviate the symptoms of withdrawal and cravings. Pairing medication with inpatient or support programs generally has the most success.

Cluster Number:
Wiki Number: PW144
Diagnosis: Opioid Use Disorder
US Patients: About 27 million in 2016
World Patients:
Sex Ratio: M+;F
Age Onset: Young adults
Brain Area: Opioids reduce dopamine in nucleus accumbens. Neuroimaging affects in the orbitofrontal area-reducing reward-behaviors
Symptoms: strong desire to use oioids, tolerance, withdrawal symptoms & living normal lives; most US heroin users began with prescriptions
Progression: Long term use shows dysregulation of brain circuits for emotion, distress and high impulsivity.
Causes:
Medications: opioid replacement threrapy uses methadone or buprenophine and naltrexone; heroin withdrawal symptoms from 2 days-2 weeks
Therapies: CBT; Lohr’s “Calming My Pain!” (DVD or Download from this website) helps to retrain the brain to reduce pain without opioids.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE

Youtube Video:Here’s Why Opioid Addiction Is So Intense

Amazon or Library Book: Decisions In Recovery:

Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder

Click the text to click or buy from Amazon.

samhsa.gov; 800-662-4357

(U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Services Administration Help)

4 CURRENT ARTICLES
FROM PUBMED

The world-wide medical research
reports chosen for each diagnosis

Clicking each title opens the
PubMed article’s summary-abstract.

Neuroinflammatory history results in overlapping transcriptional signatures with heroin exposure in the nucleus accumbens and alters responsiveness to heroin in male rats
by Gabriele Floris on December 20, 2024
Recent progress in psychiatric research has highlighted neuroinflammation in the pathophysiology of opioid use disorder (OUD), suggesting that heightened immune responses in the brain may exacerbate opioid-related mechanisms. However, the molecular mechanisms resulting from neuroinflammation that impact opioid-induced behaviors and transcriptional pathways remain poorly understood. In this study, we have begun to address this critical knowledge gap by exploring the intersection between...
Organization of primary care and early MOUD discontinuation
by Rebecca Arden Harris on December 20, 2024
No abstract
The Importance of Treatment Modality in Veterans with Opioid Use Disorder: Implications for Virtual Care
by Sarah Meshberg-Cohen on December 20, 2024
This study examined treatment utilization across in-person and virtual treatment modalities in veterans who were on medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD; N = 139). Treatment records for veterans in addiction treatment on MOUD were examined for 3-months prior to telehealth conversions ("Pre-Telehealth," 12/02/2019-03/14/2020), 3-months during the initial telehealth transition ("Telehealth," 03/15/2020-06/30/2020) and 3-months during post-telehealth transition ("Re-Entry,"...
Trends in Opioid Use Disorder in the Veterans Health Administration, 2005-2022
by Lauren R Gorfinkel on December 20, 2024
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This serial cross-sectional study of national VHA electronic health record data found that the prevalence of OUD diagnoses increased from 2005 to 2017, peaked in 2017, and declined thereafter, a trend primarily attributable to changes among non-Hispanic White patients and those younger than 65 years. Continued public health efforts aimed at recognizing, treating, and preventing OUD are warranted.