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

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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.

Pan-striatal reduction in the expression of the astrocytic dopamine transporter precedes the development of dorsolateral striatum dopamine-dependent incentive heroin seeking habits
by Tristan Hynes on April 23, 2024
The emergence of compulsive drug-seeking habits, a hallmark feature of substance use disorder, has been shown to be predicated on the engagement of dorsolateral striatal control over behaviour. This process involves the dopamine-dependent functional coupling of the anterior dorsolateral striatum (aDLS) with the nucleus accumbens core, but the mechanisms by which this coupling occurs have not been fully elucidated. The striatum is tiled by a syncytium of astrocytes that express the dopamine...
Prevalence of Opioid Use Disorder and Opioid Overdose Rates Among People With Mental Illness
by Qingxian Chen on April 23, 2024
CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore the importance of providing opioid use disorder screening and treatment for patients receiving psychiatric services.
Discordance between pain specialists and patients on the perception of dependence on pain medication: A multi-centre cross-sectional study
by Anne Roussin on April 23, 2024
CONCLUSION: Medical shared-decision for changing pain treatment could be improved by taking into account the perception of patient dependence on medications for pain relief and or psychoactive effects, particularly in nociplastic pain for which the treatment is challenging.
Prolonged diacetylmorphine take-home during the COVID-19 pandemic-Results of a retrospective cohort study
by Franciska Brezan on April 22, 2024
CONCLUSION: Allowing patients to take home oral diacetylmorphine for up to 7 days as treatment for opioid use disorder does not appear to pose any demonstrable health risk. It is generally manageable for the large majority of patients. However, careful consideration of prolonged take-home for patients with additional injectable diacetylmorphine is recommended, as these patients are more likely to lose take-home privileges.