Opium is a substance that derives from the sap produced from the seed of the poppy plant. Opium in its raw form is extremely potent, because it contains multiple alkaloids, such as morphine and codeine. All drugs that come from opium, which includes most prescription painkillers and heroin, are highly addictive.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, morphine, heroin, and some prescription painkillers, such as OxyContin, belong to the class of drugs known as opiates. Opiate drugs act on receptors in the brain, which also interact with naturally produced substances known as endorphins, which are important in regulating pain and emotion. Although beneficial in many ways, opiates have significant abuse liability.
Opium based drugs will block pain receivers in a person’s body causing a user to feel minimum pain, and they will cause a user to feel extremely sedative. When taken in large doses or when injected, opium drugs can cause a person to feel a euphoric rush, and since they also impact a person’s reward system in their brain, many people develop addictions and dependencies to opium drugs.
Finding Help for a Loved One Who is Addicted to Opium
You can find help for your loved one today. Addiction recovery is possible.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there are a range of treatments, including medications and behavioral therapies, which are effective at helping people stop their heroin and other opiates usage, and return to more stable and productive lives. Common medications for treatment include buprenorphine and methadone. Both medications work by binding to the same cell receptors as opiates, but more weakly, which helps a person wean off the drug.
In order to find the right treatment for a loved one who is addicted to an opium based drug, a person should consider the likes and dislikes of the person in question, and should find a treatment program that is specific to the individual’s needs. For example if their loved one is addicted heroin and is shy around members of the opposite sex, then they should get treatment at a program that focuses specifically on heroin addiction and that is gender based.
There are thousands of rehabs located throughout the country and most people addicted to opium based drugs want to get help, they just do not know how to. Having a loved one support them and help guide them, can significantly increase their chances of receiving the help they need, and will help them get through the trying times of opium detox.
10 Signs You Need Opioid Abuse Treatment Now -
Opioid abuse can quickly turn to addiction, requiring intensive treatment in order to help patients recover. We can help you find safe, reliable rehab centers that will cater to your needs. Call today. 1. Withdrawal Symptoms If you have begun to experience withdrawal symptoms as a side effect of your opioid abuse, it is time ... 
Opiate Withdrawal Symptoms & When to Seek Help -
Opiate withdrawal symptoms are a major indication that an addiction is developing, and should be addressed by treatment professionals as soon as possible. 
Are Synthetic Opioids Addictive? -
Like all opiate-based drugs, synthetic opioids are addictive. These substances can either be fully synthetic and made completely in a laboratory or semi-synthetic (which means that they are derived from natural opiates like opium, morphine, thebaine, or codeine). The abuse and addiction potentials of opioid drugs are based on many different factors, but synthetic opioids ... 
Are Synthetic Opiates Dangerous? -
Synthetic opiates are manufactured for a number of reasons. Primarily, these drugs are made to offset some of the negative effects associated with natural opiates. Even then, there are many risks associated with synthetic opiates, especially in the event that a person abuses one or more of these drugs. There are times when medical patients ... 
How Does Opium Addiction Treatment Help Me Stay Drug-Free? -
While most any form of addiction can be difficult to overcome, opiate addictions in particular exert a tremendous hold over a person’s will, thoughts and behaviors. People entering recovering often struggle with the aftereffects of opiates long after they stop using drugs. Without the needed supports in place, it can be especially difficult to stay ...