If you or a loved one have a substance abuse disorder related to opioids and opiates, it’s important to know the difference since the impact on your mind and body varies. At Crestview Recovery, our women’s drug rehab program treats opioid and other addictions to help clients achieve lasting recovery.
Let’s discuss the difference between opioids vs narcotics, terms that are often misunderstood.
Difference Between Opioids and Narcotics
The difference between opioids and narcotics include the classification of each. Technically, all opioids, including legal and illegal versions, are narcotics, but the term isn’t used very often due to negative connotations.
Opiates are natural drugs made out of opium, including morphine and heroin. Opioids are synthetic opiates such as Fentanyl. Narcotics refers to mind-altering drugs used to induce sleep.
Common Opioids in Increasing Strength
This is a list of opioids in order of strength:
- Codeine
- Vicodin
- Morphine
- Percoset
- Fentanyl
What are Opioids vs Narcotics?
Opioids are legally used for pain treatment. They are produced from poppies, but narcotics are a wider category of any drug or medication used to make you drowsy.
Opioids Addiction
Whether you’re talking about opioids vs narcotics, both are very addictive.
Opioids produce a euphoria that is addictive. Doctors prescribe opioids to treat pain. However, some people develop tolerance, so it takes more of the drug to experience the same benefit. This may lead to opioid addiction. If you obsessively think about opiates and seek multiple doctors for prescriptions, you should consider seeking help at a certified recovery center such as Crestview Recovery.
In high doses, opioids can cause cardiac or respiratory arrest. Tolerance to the high that occurs following opioid use increase more quickly than tolerance to these dangerous side effects. As a result, you may overdose while trying to get high.
Doctors use intravenous naltrexone to reverse an opioid overdose.
Do You Have an Opioids vs Narcotics Addiction?
Use the following questions to determine if it’s time to seek help for an opioid or narcotics addiction:
- Have you increased your usage of opioids or narcotics over time?
- Do you have to use more of the drug to get the same effects?
- Have you stopped doing activities you enjoy to use drugs?
- Do you often think obsessively about using your drugs?
Answering yes to more than two of these questions means that you show addictive tendencies toward opioids or narcotics.
Narcotics Treatment Recovery Plan
Following detox from the narcotic you use, you attend psychiatric counseling. Treatment programs including reflection and self-awareness tools help you discover the source of your addiction. You also learn to break the cycle of use and avoid a relapse.
At Crestview Recovery, you go through the various treatments with experienced psychiatrists. You can also get medical oversight and assistance with withdrawal symptoms.
Sometimes, you need to ask for help. Without a support system, you may have a harder time sticking to your recovery. Many clients say our recovery plan teaches them to avoid risky situations that may lead to a relapse. Additionally, our prevention strategies give you the skills to tackle sober living one day at a time.
Medications to Treat Opioids vs Narcotics Withdrawal
Since opioids are a kind of narcotic, similar medications treat both categories of drugs. The following drugs help curve withdrawal symptoms:
- Suboxone or Subutex, which are brand names for buprenorphine, ease withdrawal symptoms and severity.
- Methadone also makes detoxification easier.
Medications to Treat Opioid Addiction
Suboxone or Subutex can replace opioids use to help to kick the habit for good. Additionally, Revia reduces cravings so you can’t get high. Opioids vs narcotics Treatment at Crestview Recovery address the needs of each client.
Call the knowledgeable staff at Crestview Recovery at 866.262.0531 for more information or to take the first step on your road to recovery.
