Opioids have rapidly become one of the most common forms of addiction across the United States and perhaps the world. According to researchers, as many as 91 people succumb to opioid addiction on a daily basis. People fall into opioid addiction through all sorts of means. Yet regardless of how someone came to develop their addiction, they will need help to recover.
One of the best ways to support a loved one seeking treatment for Opioid Addiction Treatment in Rockford IL or any other treatment is by understanding how their disease works.
Some People Are More Susceptible to Opioid Addiction Than Others
People of a specific age range can be especially vulnerable to developing an opioid dependency that may require treatment for opioid addiction down the road. This is typically the adolescent age range or more specifically, between 12 to 18 years of age. Studies show as many as 20 percent of people within this age range may find themselves developing an addiction to opioids from the first dose alone. What makes this fact all the more startling is there is no way to detect who is more vulnerable to opioid addiction than someone else.
Taking Lower or Fewer Doses of Opioid Medication Doesn’t Necessarily Prevent Addiction
Some people believe as long as they stick to the directions given by their prescription or use less than prescribed, they are completely safe from becoming addicted. However, this isn’t the case. No matter how much you take initially, it will eventually stop working as effectively, causing you to need higher amounts of medication to soothe your pain. If you have to take painkillers for an extensive amount of time, you may wind up developing a dependency without realizing. This is why many doctors wean their patients off of their medications slowly once they no longer need them.
To learn more about opioid dependency for opioid addiction, get in touch with Brightside.