Warning Signs of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)
Some warning signs of an opioid use disorder (or an addiction to opioids) include:
- Cravings: The strong desire to use opioids; cravings can be physical and/or emotional.
- Development of a tolerance: Over time, individuals with an opioid use disorder may require higher doses of opioids to achieve the same feelings of pain relief or euphoria.
- The inability to control or reduce use of opioids
- Showing signs of withdrawal after stopping or reducing opioids
- Spending large amounts of time accessing opioids
- There are other signs of an opioid use disorder that may be harder to detect, as they could be related to other things in a person’s life. Some examples include:
- Changes in sleep or exercise habits
- Weight loss
- Isolation from family or loved ones
- Financial difficulties
- Difficulty meeting social and/or work commitments
It is important to remember that opioid use disorders, like all substance use disorders, may look different for every individual. Someone struggling with an OUD may not show signs right away; they also may not want to seek help immediately. When an individual decides that they want to start the recovery process for an OUD or another SUD, it’s important that they have support and access to resources for treatment as quickly as possible.
Source: Hopkins Medicine