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.

The use of telemedicine for perioperative pain management during the COVID-19 pandemic
by Anping Xie on March 28, 2023
CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic stimulated the use of telemedicine. To facilitate telemedicine adoption beyond the pandemic, future research is needed to examine best practices for telemedicine adoption and provide additional evidence on the effectiveness of telemedicine.
Unintentional overdoses: understanding the fentanyl landscape and reducing harm
by Lauren A Bell on March 28, 2023
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Adolescent and young adult overdoses and overdose fatalities continue to increase despite reductions in self-reported substance use. This review aims to explore factors contributing to this overdose epidemic, highlight signs of overdose and the role of the overdose reversal medication naloxone, and provide recommendations for practice change to support patients and decrease their risk of unintentional overdose.
Experiences with Medications for Addiction Treatment Among Emergency Department Patients with Opioid Use Disorder
by Charlotte E Goldfine on March 28, 2023
CONCLUSION: The anticipation of withdrawal symptoms during initiation and cessation of treatment affected willingness to engage in a specific therapy. Future educational materials for people who use drugs may focus on comparisons of respective benefits and drawbacks of agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists. Emergency clinicians must be prepared to answer questions about MAT discontinuation to effectively engage patients with OUD.
Patient Perceptions of Integrating Meditation-based Interventions in Office-based Opioid Treatment with Buprenorphine: A Mixed-methods Survey
by Babak Tofighi on March 28, 2023
CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study indicate high acceptability for adopting MBI among patients prescribed buprenorphine in OBOT. Further research is needed to assess the efficacy of MBI to improve clinical outcomes among patients initiating buprenorphine in OBOT.