As addiction affects many people worldwide, families and medical professionals strive to understand these substances’ true impact. Opioids are at the center of commonly misused drugs, which can significantly affect your body and nervous system. Many misconceptions and misunderstandings surround these drugs, hiding the true impact of opioids on the body. Today, we hope to help you stay alert of any signs and symptoms and help surround you or a loved one with the proper support for opioid detox.

What Comprises Your Nervous System?

Your central nervous system primarily relates to your brain and spine. This is a significant part of your body and is responsible for decision-making, senses, balance, and many other things we rely on daily. Without your central nervous system, even simple daily tasks would be impossible, so any impact caused by substances can take a serious toll on the person it impacts.

What Are Opioids?

Opioids are powerful pain-relieving drugs that target your central nervous system to reduce severe pain levels. As a Schedule II substance, opioids have an extremely high risk of abuse, which is why distribution of the drug must be handled carefully by doctors. Substances like morphine, fentanyl, and oxycodone are some of the more common opioids on the market today. 

How Opioids Impact Your Brain and Nervous System

Opioids were initially designed and developed to help individuals relieve pain, and they’re still one of the more potent pain relievers on the market today. They achieve the goal by attaching to receptors on your nerves. Our nerves catch neurotransmitters, which activate our nerve cells and electronic pulses that carry the signals sent to the body. But opioid receptors create a different sensation. They prevent these electronic pulses by binding to three receptors in your brain, blocking the signals from transmitting.

Unfortunately, opioids also bind to the “reward pathway” of your brain, triggering a dopamine release that signals your body to create a “high” or rewarding feeling. As a result, the brain is wired to chase things that give you a pleasurable sensation, leading to increased use of opioids and eventual opioid addiction.

The issue is that most people start developing a drug tolerance to opioids, meaning the more you take the drug, the more of the drug is needed to achieve the peak result you want. As more is consumed, the chemistry of your brain begins to change, and its neurons start to behave differently. Over a lengthy time, the brain will change so much that it ceases to function unless it receives the requisite supply of opioids, leading to significant difficulties completing daily routines, responsibilities, and tasks. 

What Can You Do to Stop Opioid Dependency?

Dependence on opioids or any other drug doesn’t have to last forever. Just like it took the brain time to get used to a drug, it also takes your brain time to heal from misuse of the drug. With proper treatment methods and support, individuals can overcome withdrawal symptoms and rewire their brains to function properly. Prescription drug monitoring are available to keep an eye out on individuals taking opioids for pain relief. 

Opioid dependency also starts with education. It becomes difficult to prevent worst-case scenarios without knowing the impacts of these substances. With a heightened focus on giving out valuable information to the public, more people can receive critical insight into the effects these substances can have on their lives. For more information on opioids, reach out to trusted medical professionals or local treatment facilities like Steps to Recovery.

Don’t Let Opioids Take Over Your Brain — Turn to Steps to Recovery For Help

Your nervous system plays a significant role in how you think, feel, and act. Don’t let opioids or any other drug negatively impact such an important part of your life. Instead, turn to professional treatment centers like Steps to Recovery to secure the professional support you need to recover from short and long-term dependence on opioids and other substances. Reach out to our opioid addiction treatment center today by filling out our contact form for more information on our treatment methods, or give us a call at267.209.7312 to speak to one of our medical experts.

Sources:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17430825/ 

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/brain-gets-hooked-opioids 

https://artakeback.org/wellness/opioids-harm-the-body-brain/ 

https://americanaddictioncenters.org/health-complications-addiction/central-nervous-system