Opiate addiction is an addiction consisting of physical dependency.  According to the National Institute for Drug Abuse, more than 1 million people suffer from opiate addiction in the United States.  Unfortunately, the number of people with an opiate addiction continues to be on the rise.

Opiates are used to treat acute pain that may have been caused by fractures, surgery, cancer, or other painful occurrences.  When opiates are used incorrectly, however, an opiate addiction can occur because opiates are highly addictive.  Once an opiate addiction develops, it becomes necessary to receive medical attention in order to stop taking the drugs. 

Opiate addiction affects people of all ages.  Many people who develop an opiate addiction become addicted after using opiates to treat chronic pain.  Traditionally, overcoming an opiate addiction has been extremely difficult. 

A person suffering from an opiate addiction will often feel anxious when it is time to have a prescription refilled, for fear of running out.  A person who has developed an opiate addiction might also need to take more and more of the medication in order to reach the desired effects.

A person suffering from an opiate addiction will experience symptoms of withdrawal when attempting to quit the use of opiates.  Some symptoms of withdrawal for a person with an opiate addiction include muscle and bone pain, diarrhea, cold flashes, and vomiting.  A person suffering from withdrawal due to an opiate addiction might also feel restless and develop involuntary leg movements.

Methadone, which is a synthetic opiate, is often used to help people with an opiate addiction recover.  Methadone eliminates the symptoms of withdrawal and has been used for more than 30 years to help people recover from opiate addiction.

More recently, medications such as LAAM and Naltrexone have been developed to assist in the recovery from opiate addiction.   No matter the choice of recovery or the medication used, it is important for a person suffering from an opiate addiction to seek help in order to recover from opiate addiction.  Without recovery, it is impossible for a person dealing with an opiate addiction to lead a long, healthy life.

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