9781422274323

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Over time, the body and brain of a person who takes opioids adjusts to the drugs, functioning normally when they are taking the drugs, but malfunctioning when the drugs aren’t present. The symptoms that occur after a person stops taking opioids are called withdrawal symptoms. They can range from agitation, sweating, nausea and vomiting to tremors, seizures, severe depression and anxiety, and abnormal heart rhythms. Dr. Kosten and Dr. George found that the physical changes that cause dependency usually went away after a period of detoxification (detox). A person can be dependent on a drug but not addicted. Before someone who is addicted to opioids can begin to recover, they have to give their body the opportunity to heal from dependency and move beyond withdrawal symptoms. Detox is usually conducted under medical supervision and may include treatment with drugs that improve withdrawal symptoms and help people be more comfortable during the difficult withdrawal period. Melissa Cohen is a twenty-nine-year-old Vermont native whose addiction to prescription painkillers led to abuse of street drugs, including heroin. Melissa’s addiction hit its lowest level when she found herself sleeping in a local park. After completing short-term and long-term rehab programs funded by the state of Vermont, Melissa is in full recovery and working as a barista at a healthy living store.

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Who Needs Treatment For Opioid Addiction?