Opioid addiction is fast becoming a global pandemic, with millions of people afflicted. The term opioid refers to any substance that can bind opioid receptors in your brain and provide feelings of pleasure, euphoria, or extreme relaxation.

Some opioids like heroin are made from natural sources such as poppy plants and coca plants. Alternatively, synthetic opioids, like OxyContin, are made in a laboratory and may affect the brain differently.

Before any treatment can be used, it's essential to identify the symptoms of opioid addiction to ensure that the best methods are used to overcome the addiction. Common symptoms of opioid addiction typically include:

It's important to note that these symptoms combined with opioid use can indicate an addiction. Individuals that do not take opioids and have these symptoms may be experiencing other health-related issues.

Once an addiction has been identified, it's vital to choose treatment options best suited to the needs, lifestyle, and drug of choice for the addict.

Prescription opioid addiction can be treated in various ways. However, the gold standard of ensuring successful addiction recovery from opioids is entering an inpatient drug rehab facility - especially for those with an extensive history of opioid abuse.

These facilities are equipped with the medical professionals needed to provide complete medical care throughout the recovery process. Inpatient treatment options also include round-the-clock healthcare, 24/7 support, and a staged reintroduction to society when it comes time for rehab graduates to return home.

Typically, these programs are voluntary and often run by non-profit organizations. However, any addict that enters an inpatient rehab facility will be required to go through a detox, which can be the hardest part of the recovery process due to its uncomfortable physical effects.

Those who want to maintain sobriety or stop their addiction before it becomes a more significant problem can enroll in a variety of outpatient programs designed to treat opioid addiction. These programs include:

These options are all designed to help ease the transition from opioid addiction back into society while providing a solid support structure by other addicts. The structured nature of these types of and of these opioid addiction treatments can often be vital in helping individuals overcome their addictions both for short and long-term use.