Opioid addiction is a prevalent issue across the world, particularly in North America. Roughly three million Americans meet the criteria for having an opioid use disorder (OUD), meaning they’re trapped in the cycle of addiction. Without a doubt, opioids are a highly addictive substance that can quickly lead to overdose and death. This is why opioid use outside of prescription pain management, including prescription drug abuse, is illegal. If you’re struggling with opioid abuse, the best way to achieve sobriety is by getting help at an opioid detox center. Rest assured that rehab facilities are safe and empathetic environments designed to help you recover.

What Are Opioids?

Opioids are a class of substances that have pain-relieving properties. They can be made illicitly, like heroin and fentanyl, or made for medical purposes, like codeine and oxycodone. Regardless, all opioids can be abused. Illicit opioids are illegal and harmful, as they present a great risk of overdose.

People can become addicted to any type of opioid. The best way to ensure you remove the toxins from your body is through medical detoxification in a rehab facility. Through Aliya Health Group’s centers across the United States, we offer the following opioid detoxification:

• Fentanyl detox
• Oxycodone detox
• Oxymorphone detox
• Percocet detox
• Codeine detox
• Hydrocodone detox
• Hydromorphone detox
• Morphine detox
• Prescription drug detox

Opioid addiction leads to uncomfortable and unavoidable symptoms of dependence. These can target the person in multiple ways:

• Physical cravings
• Psychological dependence
• Symptoms of mental illness
• Relational breakdown
• Financial difficulties

Why Do People Get Addicted to Opioids? 

Opioids are highly addictive because they alter the person’s brain chemistry over time. Thus, the process of recovery is weaning off of opioids and fighting triggers that create a desire for more. Also, recovery must include the deeper psychological work of understanding why you turned to opioids in the first place. Learning to replace drugs with healthy alternatives that produce positive feelings is one goal individuals have in rehab.

Why do people get addicted to opioids? It’s because of how opioids act on brain structures. Opioids activate opioid-sensitive receptors that transmit pain signals between the brain and body. By blocking feelings of pain and releasing dopamine, individuals then experience a high that feels euphoric and pleasurable. The brain’s reaction becomes conditioned, so it develops tolerance to the effects and needs more. After tolerance, the brain transitions to acting more normally with drugs in the system than without. This state is dependent, and the individual requires opioids to function normally.

Therefore, they developed brain abnormalities that contribute to withdrawal symptoms and the need for more of the drug. Using opioids becomes a compulsion that is almost impossible to overcome on your own. Everything in your brain is telling you to take more. Opioid dependence happens shortly after a person starts using the substance. In reality, medical detox in a facility is the only proven method of opioid detox.

Substance abuse counseling provides healing and next steps for individuals struggling with addiction. Through counseling rehab, people learn to move forward in life without their addiction. Substance abuse counselors are equipped to help you find self-resilience and deep motivation to achieve and maintain sobriety. Further, the length of addiction counseling can be flexible depending on you.

What Is Substance Abuse Counseling?

Substance abuse counseling occurs between a licensed substance addiction counselor and a client with a history of substance abuse. Sessions are private and safe spaces to talk about anything, whether it seems to relate or not. Drug and alcohol abuse creates deep emotional scars that can only be healed by bringing them to the surface. Thus, counseling provides mental, emotional, and spiritual healing through talk therapy tools. At Aliya Health Group, we employ counselors who are trained in dealing with addiction. They help clients engage with counseling as part of the greater picture of rehabilitation and recovery.

What Does a Substance Abuse Counselor Do?

Simply put, substance abuse counselors facilitate a conversation that unpacks the individual’s experience of addiction. Through therapy methods, talk exercises, and resources, they help the person understand how their pain connects to their substance use. But instead of leaving them feeling raw and vulnerable, counselors then provide insight and steps to help the individual heal from their past. Sometimes, all it takes is someone empathetic and caring to listen. Yet, substance abuse counselors are much more than that.

What Substances Can Counseling Treat?

People enter treatment with a wide range of addictions they struggle with. Nothing is too taboo or difficult to recover from. Our counselors are trained to help you heal from whatever you’re struggling with.

Alcohol

Alcohol abuse can start from a young age and spiral throughout one’s lifetime if they don’t receive care. In the United States alone, almost 29 million people aged 12 and older battled alcohol use disorder (AUD) in 2023. We can help you recover from alcohol abuse.

Opioids

Opioid abuse plays a huge role in the opioid crisis, as dependence is likely after use. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates over 77,000 opioid deaths in 2024. Opioids can be impossible to recover from without medical detox and treatment. Our counselors are prepared to help you overcome opioid abuse.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines, or “benzos,” are prescription sedatives with a high risk of abuse due to the relaxing effect they provide. The National Library of Medicine estimates that they have a roughly 20 percent misuse rate. Our team is knowledgeable about detoxing and recovering from benzodiazepine addiction.

Stimulants

Stimulants encompass a wide range of drugs that increase activity in the brain but can easily be abused or overdosed. These include amphetamines, tobacco, methamphetamine, nicotine, cocaine, and diet aids. We can help you break your addiction to stimulant drugs.

Methamphetamine, or meth, is a highly addictive substance that stimulates the central nervous system. The result is a temporary high and euphoria, but also likely agitation, racing heart, and restlessness. Individuals build a tolerance to meth quickly, so they need larger, more frequent doses, causing dependence. Overamping is the term for stimulant abuse, such as crystal meth (a form of meth that looks like rocks or crystals). Methamphetamine overdose is a prevalent issue that can lead to personal destruction and death. It’s important to recognize the signs of a meth overdose to know when to seek help.

What Is a Crystal Meth Overdose?

Instead of the term “overdose,” the term “overamping” is commonly used when it comes to stimulants. This is because of confusion around how much of a stimulant is considered too much and qualifies as an overdose. Because all meth use is dangerous, it can be hard to pinpoint an overdose, especially considering many people believe overdosing isn’t possible.

Instead, oversampling adequately defines the dangerous effects of stimulant drug abuse. With that said, oversampling can refer to the following after taking the drug:

• Heart rate 2-3 times faster than regular
• Inability to move or walk
• Inability to wake up
• Seizures
• Intense headache
• Memory lapse
• Hallucinations or delusions
• Aggression
• Fear or paranoia
• Uncontrollable “flailing” movements
• Sensory overload

In sum, overamping refers to symptoms of crystal meth use that can be severe and equivalent to an overdose of the drug. All crystal meth use puts the person at risk.

Meth Use Statistics

Regardless of its dangers, meth use continues. In the United States, approximately 2.5 million people use it per year. Medically, stimulants like amphetamines can be prescribed for conditions like ADHD or obesity. Yet, because of the huge threat of abuse, this is rare. Mostly, people use meth recreationally. It also has a reputation as a party drug, which leads to many young people using it. In 2021, a reported 32,537 people died from stimulant abuse, with the primary drug being methamphetamines.

How Do People Use Meth?

Crystal meth is a man-made illicit substance that can only be created and purchased illegally. What does crystal meth look like? It resembles white or clear rocks or crystals but may look more brown, grey, or colorful. It can also be ground into powder. People use meth in a variety of ways.

Injecting Meth

Meth can be injected with a needle for more intense results. Those with dependence may need to inject it in order to get the same results as they first did.

Smoking Meth

Meth can be smoked through a crystal meth pipe or by heating it and inhaling the vapor.

Snorting Meth  

In powder form, meth is commonly snorted through the nose.         

What Are the Sign and Symptoms of a Meth Overdose? 

Unfortunately, it’s a common misconception that methamphetamine can’t be overdosed. In reality, many people die from meth abuse each year. If you’re wondering if you can overdose on meth, the answer is yes. There are common meth overdose symptoms to watch for.

Physical Signs

Stimulants trigger physical symptoms in the body quickly after taking the drug. Some symptoms occur during use, and others as part of withdrawal. The exact symptoms and severity depend on the person.

• Fatigue or exhaustion
• Headaches
• Muscle tension
• Shakes and tremors
• Fast heart rate
• Itchiness
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Poor dental health

Behavioral Signs

There are also behavioral meth overdose signs that can occur during or after using meth. Sometimes, behavioral symptoms last after the high, such as during withdrawal. Symptoms can include:

• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Depression or hopelessness
• Anger
• Paranoia
• Confusion
• Poor memory
• Low motivation
• Lack of desire to engage in former interests