Opium is the substance that all opiate drugs derive from. Aside from marijuana, opiate drugs are the most commonly abused illegal substances, and are the most addictive drugs. There are numerous consequences that a person who abuses opiates will experience, but there are five consequences that are the most common to occur.
Addiction
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is a chronic and often relapsing disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, regardless of the harmful consequences to the person using the drugs and to other people around them.
If a person develops an addiction to an opium based drug, they will feel the uncontrollable need to continually use the drug. This will lead to constant drug abuse and will lead to behavioral changes. People addicted to opium based drugs commonly lose their jobs, their friends, and their money, due to the drug’s control over their life. In addition, addiction often leads to dependency.
Dependency
Abuse of opium can cause addiction and significant related issues.
Opium abuse commonly leads to dependency. If a person takes an opium based drug for a long period of time, or on a frequent basis, their body will begin to get used to the drug being in it. Over time, the body will begin to become dependent on the drug, and if the drug is not in the user’s system, then they will go through withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms from opium are painful and most people require the need of treatment to get through them.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Dependency to opium will cause a person to go through a variety of withdrawal symptoms, some of which can be extremely painful and dangerous. Common withdrawals from opium based drugs include anxiety, insomnia, fevers, headaches, muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and cold sweats.
Furthermore, a person will begin to go through withdrawal symptoms, even if they have the drug in their system, but not enough of it. Over time since a person needs more and more of the drug to get the desired high they want, their body will continue to build a tolerance to the drug, which means that they will need more and more of the drug to avoid withdrawals. This can become very expensive.
Financial Loss
Due to dependency, addiction, and tolerance, the need for opium will become a main priority for a person abusing opium. This will reflect in their finances. In order to maintain their high and avoid withdrawals a person will continually need to purchase the drug, which will result in them losing a lot of money.
Criminal Activity
Since many people cannot afford to continue to support their opium abuse problem, or they lose their job because of it, they resort to criminal activities to get the drugs they want. In many cases, people will steal items or money from their friends and family to pay for drugs, or they may begin to rob people. These actions can lead to a person being arrested and doing jail time because of their opium abuse.
How Naloxone Helps Reverse Opiate Overdose Effects -
Opiate overdose, whether caused by prescription drugs or illicit opiates, can be fatal. Fortunately, naloxone, an opiate antagonist, can reverse the overdose effects, often saving a person’s life. What Happens During Opiate Overdose? Overdose is a very common outcome of opiate addiction. It is also common for many recovering addicts to relapse and take the same ... 
Signs of Withdrawal from Opiates -
Opiate withdrawal can be a very painful process. It is not usually life-threatening, but it isn’t very pleasant either. When a person is exhibiting physical signs of opiate withdrawal, this means that he or she was dependent on the drug. If you are concerned you or someone you know is going through opiate withdrawal, look ... 
Opioid Medication List -
Opioids, or narcotics, are a type of drug that cause pain relief, drowsiness, and in high doses, euphoria. According to the DEA, “Narcotics/opioids come in various forms, including: tablets, capsules, skin patches… liquid form for oral use and injection, suppositories, and lollipops.” Below is a list of the most commonly used opioid medications. Opioid Medications ... 
Are All Opium Based Drugs Addictive? -
Opium based drugs, such as opioid type medications that doctors prescribe to help alleviate painful ailments can be addicting. Opium is known for its natural pain relieving effects, but it is also very addictive. Heroin is another highly addictive drug that contains opium, however, it has no medicinal purpose in the United States, and it ... 
Dangers of Opiates -
When it comes to pain relief, opiate-based remedies head the pack as the fastest, most effective drugs on the market. Opiates work by slowing down central nervous system processes, and essentially interfering with normal signal transmissions between nerve cells throughout the body. As of 2010, as many as two million people reported having used opiates ...