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Opioids

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Understanding Opiates and Opioids Addiction: Short-Term and Long-Term Effects for You and Your Loved Ones

Opiates and opioids, which include both prescription painkillers like oxycodone and illegal drugs like heroin, are highly addictive substances that can have devastating impacts on physical, mental, and emotional health. Whether they were initially prescribed for pain management or acquired illicitly, the grip of opioid addiction affects not only the individual but also their loved ones. This article will explore the short-term and long-term effects of opioid abuse, how to recognise addiction, and how Abbington House can help you or your loved one recover through our medically supervised detox programme.

Short-Term Effects of Opiates and Opioids Abuse: Immediate Harm

Opiates and opioids are potent drugs that, even in the short term, can cause serious harm to both body and mind.

For you, the short-term effects of opioid abuse might include:

  • Euphoria and pain relief: These drugs are effective at relieving pain and can induce a temporary feeling of euphoria, which often leads to misuse.
  • Drowsiness and confusion: Opioids can slow down cognitive function, leading to mental fog and difficulty staying alert.
  • Slowed breathing: One of the most dangerous short-term effects, opioids can suppress the respiratory system, potentially leading to fatal overdoses.
  • Constipation: A common and uncomfortable side effect of opioid use.

For your loved ones, the short-term effects can be deeply distressing to witness. The unpredictability of opioid abuse, combined with the high risk of overdose, often leaves families in a constant state of worry, fearing for your safety.

At Abbington House, we understand the gravity of opioid addiction. Our medically supervised detox programme ensures that you or your loved one can safely begin the journey to recovery under the care of medical professionals who are experienced in managing withdrawal symptoms and the complexities of opioid dependence.

Long-Term Effects of Opiates and Opioids Abuse: Deep and Lasting Consequences

The longer opiate or opioid abuse continues, the more damage it can do. Over time, the physical, emotional, and mental toll of addiction becomes even more profound.

For you, the long-term effects of opioid abuse might include:

  • Physical dependence: Over time, your body will need more of the drug to achieve the same effects, leading to physical dependence and severe withdrawal symptoms when you stop.
  • Liver and kidney damage: Prolonged opioid use can damage vital organs, particularly when mixed with other substances like alcohol.
  • Chronic constipation and bowel issues: Long-term opioid use can lead to serious gastrointestinal problems.
  • Mental health issues: Opioid addiction often contributes to or worsens depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Additionally, chronic opioid use can lead to memory problems and cognitive decline.
  • Increased risk of overdose: As tolerance builds, individuals may take higher doses of opioids, significantly increasing the risk of a life-threatening overdose. With illicit drugs
    being controlled by criminals, the cutting agents with most illegal substances being cut with stronger opioids there is a heightened risk of overdose, most unprescribed, dark web opioids are unlicensed and unregulated to the contents of the opioid .

For your loved ones, the emotional toll can be overwhelming. Watching a family member or friend struggle with long-term opioid addiction can create deep feelings of helplessness and anxiety, as they fear for your well-being and worry about the potential for overdose.

At Abbington House, we provide a holistic and comprehensive approach to treatment, addressing both the physical and mental health aspects of long-term opioid abuse. Our aim is not just to help you stop using but to help you heal, rebuild your life, and restore relationships with your loved ones.

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Are You an Addict? Recognising the Signs of Opiates and Opioids Addiction

Recognising addiction in yourself or a loved one can be difficult, but it’s an important step toward recovery. Consider these questions:

  • Do you feel unable to stop using opioids, even when you want to?
  • Have you increased your dosage to achieve the same effect?
  • Do you spend a lot of time thinking about, obtaining, or using opioids?
  • Do you use opioids to manage stress, emotional pain, or physical discomfort?
  • Have your loved ones expressed concern about your opioid use?

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time to take a closer look at your relationship with opioids. Addiction can sneak up on individuals, especially when opioids were initially prescribed for a legitimate medical condition, but over time, their control over your life can become overwhelming.

At Abbington House, we provide a safe and supportive space for you to explore your relationship with opioids and begin your journey to recovery. Our expert therapists will work with you to develop a personalised treatment plan that addresses both the addiction and any underlying issues contributing to it.

How Abbington House Can Help: Your Journey to Healing and Recovery

At Abbington House, we understand that opioid addiction requires more than just stopping the use of the drug—it requires a comprehensive, whole-person approach to recovery. We are here to guide you and your loved ones through every step of the process with compassion, expertise, and unwavering support.

  • Medically Supervised Detox: The first step in overcoming opioid addiction is detox, and it must be done under medical supervision due to the severity of withdrawal symptoms. At Abbington House, our medically supervised detox programme provides a safe and supportive environment, where your physical and mental well-being is closely monitored as your body detoxifies from opioids.
  • Therapy for the Whole Person: Addiction is not just a physical condition—it’s deeply tied to emotional and psychological factors. At Abbington House, we provide a range of therapeutic options to help you heal from the inside out. Our therapies include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and trauma-informed care, all of which are designed to help you uncover the root causes of your addiction and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Our therapies include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and trauma-informed
    therapy, Motivational interviewing (MI), Gestalt therapy and Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR) all of which are designed to help you uncover the root causes of your addiction and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
  • Family Support: Opioid addiction affects everyone, including your loved ones. At Abbington House, we offer family therapy to help rebuild trust, improve communication, and foster a supportive environment for your recovery. Addiction often creates rifts in relationships, and family therapy is a critical part of the healing process for both you and your loved ones.
  • Aftercare: Recovery is an ongoing process, and it doesn’t end when you leave Abbington House. We offer comprehensive aftercare programmes to ensure you have the continued support needed to maintain your sobriety. Our aftercare services include relapse prevention strategies, recovery coaching, and ongoing therapy to help you stay on track in your recovery journey.

At Abbington House, we believe in your ability to heal and reclaim your life. With the right support and care, you can overcome opioid addiction and build a future filled with hope and purpose—for yourself and for your loved ones.

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Opiate and opioid addiction doesn’t happen in isolation. Many individuals struggling with addiction are also dealing with underlying mental health conditions that contribute to or exacerbate their substance use.

Common mental health triggers for opioid addiction include:

  • Depression and anxiety: Many individuals use opioids to escape from emotional pain, but over time, opioid use only deepens feelings of depression and anxiety.
  • Bipolar disorder: The extreme mood swings of bipolar disorder can lead individuals to use opioids to either elevate their mood during depressive episodes or calm down during manic phases.
  • Chronic pain: Individuals prescribed opioids for pain relief can become dependent on the drug, and over time, may begin using it for both physical and emotional pain.
  • PTSD and trauma: Those with a history of trauma may turn to opioids to numb emotional pain or manage symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

At Abbington House, we take a dual-diagnosis approach to treating opioid addiction. This means we treat both the addiction and the underlying mental health conditions contributing to it. Our experienced therapists will help you work through these complex issues, ensuring you receive the comprehensive care needed for lasting recovery.

Many individuals struggling with opioid addiction are also dealing with unresolved trauma. Whether the trauma stems from childhood, a recent loss, or ongoing stress, opioids can become a way to escape from emotional pain—but this only leads to a cycle of addiction and greater suffering. All this is extensively researched in the Adverse childhood experiences study (ACE’S)


Common traumas linked to opioid addiction include:

  • Childhood abuse or neglect: Early experiences of trauma can lead individuals to use opioids to cope with emotional pain.
  • Loss and bereavement: Grief and loss can be overwhelming, and some people turn to opioids as a way to manage their emotions.
  • Domestic violence: Survivors of domestic abuse may use opioids to numb their emotional and physical pain, creating a dangerous cycle of dependency.

At Abbington House, we provide trauma-informed care to help individuals address the underlying trauma that may be driving their opioid addiction. Therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Inner Child Therapy are designed to help you process and heal from past trauma, empowering you to move forward in your recovery.

Common traumas that may contribute to alcohol addiction include:

  • Childhood abuse or neglect: Early experiences of neglect or abuse can have a lasting impact, leading individuals to use alcohol to cope with unresolved emotions.
  • Loss and bereavement: Grief can be overwhelming, and some individuals turn to alcohol to numb the pain of losing a loved one.
  • Domestic violence: Survivors of domestic abuse may use alcohol as a way to manage the emotional scars left by the trauma.

At Abbington House, we offer trauma-informed care to help individuals confront and heal from these painful experiences. Therapies such as Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Inner Child Therapy are available to help you process and release the emotional pain that may be driving your addiction.

Detoxing from opioids is a critical step in recovery, but it must be done under medical supervision due to the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Opioid withdrawal can be highly uncomfortable and even dangerous, making medically supervised detox essential.

Common symptoms of opioid withdrawal include:

  • Intense cravings for opioids
  • Muscle pain, cramps, and joint aches
  • Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea
  • Sweating, chills, and fever
  • Anxiety, agitation, and restlessness

At Abbington House, our medically supervised detox programme ensures that you receive the care and support you need throughout the detox process. Our clinical team provides 24/7 monitoring, managing withdrawal symptoms and ensuring that you are as comfortable and safe as possible. If further mental health assessments are required following detox, our clinical professionals will discuss these next steps with you and your loved ones.

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can include:

  • Tremors and shaking
  • Severe anxiety and agitation
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Hallucinations
  • Seizures and delirium tremens (DTs): A dangerous condition that can result in confusion, rapid heart rate, and even death if untreated.

At Abbington House, we offer a medically supervised detox programme that ensures your safety throughout this difficult process. Every client begins with a comprehensive assessment by our psychiatrist, who gathers information about your medical, psychiatric, and addiction history. Based on this assessment, we create a personalised, medically assisted detox plan that is tailored to your specific needs.

Throughout detox, our clinical team will monitor you 24/7, managing any withdrawal symptoms and providing medications when necessary to keep you comfortable and safe. If after detox, it is determined that a more comprehensive mental health assessment is needed, our clinical professionals will discuss this with you and your loved ones. We make sure that any underlying mental health issues are properly addressed to set the stage for long-term recovery.

At Abbington House, detox is just the first step in a broader, comprehensive treatment programme. Our holistic approach to recovery ensures that you receive the physical, mental, and emotional support needed to overcome addiction and build a healthier life.

Our three-stage programme includes:

  1. Medically Supervised Detox: Safe removal of alcohol from the body, with 24/7 medical care to manage withdrawal symptoms.
  2. Addiction Therapy: A personalised therapy plan designed to address the root causes of addiction, with a range of therapeutic modalities such as CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed care.
  3. Aftercare: Ongoing support to help you maintain your sobriety after treatment, including relapse prevention strategies and recovery coaching.

Abbington House provides a safe, nurturing space where you can begin your recovery journey with the full support of our expert team. From detox to therapy and aftercare, we are here to guide you every step of the way.

If you or someone you love is struggling with opiates or opioids addiction, don’t wait. Reach out to Abbington House today to begin your journey to recovery. You are not alone—help is just a step away.