COUNSELING

Counseling: Opioids

Opioids are synthetic chemicals that are harmful to the body if taken in an unrestricted manner as they react with the nerve and body cells, creating an adverse impact on the brain. On the contrary, a small amount of opioids is generally taken as pain relievers. Still, if misused and taken in large quantities without the doctors prescription, they can cause addiction. This paper aims to provide a literature review on the selected problems, opioid use disorder, and opioid usage for medical benefits.

Literature Review

Description of the Disorder

Narration in the research studies mentioned that opioids tend to misuse and addicted along with medical advantages if used in the healthcare field to cure the patients (Hoffman, Terashima & McCarty, 2019). The global use of opioids increased between 2001 and 2003 in addition to the years 2011 and 2013. The misuse of this substance has been widely witnessed in Africa, where public health emergency was inflicted in North America and some regions of Europe. There have even been controversies regarding its long-term use for pain relief, loss of analgesic effectiveness, the potential for addiction, and drug diversion. It is deemed highly effective for cancer patients and patients undergoing major surgeries. In the United States, two-thirds of the population was seen doing overdosage of opioids during 2017 and deaths resulting from the said issue.

Opioid use disorder is one of the substance use disorders that instigates an addicted person to use opioids with an overpowering desire (Dydyk, Jain & Gupta, 2021). There is an increase in its tolerance, and the withdrawal symptoms worsen when it is discontinued. It is a chronic health condition that includes addiction to this very substance, representing a form of the disorder. The disorder comprises periods of exacerbation and remission for the need for the substance. It contributes to the susceptibility of the relapse that is never-ending. The pattern is considered similar to other substance use disorders as signs and symptoms could worsen as relapsing stays consistent. If the adherence to the substance use remains, then the chronic risk of overdose, suicide, or trauma could also worsen. Still, if the risk decreases, treatment therapy works, and abstinence from opioids becomes successful.

Category and Description of the Substance

The term opioid refers to the chemical compounds bound together to opiate receptors (Rosenblum et al., 2008). The alkaloids deriving from opium poppy include morphine and codeine. The semi-synthetic opiates within opioids are the naturally occurring opiates, most commonly known in the form of morphine and oxycodone. Therefore, the term narcotic is used alongside its legal designation since law enforcement firms have deterred them from being used otherwise other than in a clinical setting.

According to American Psychiatric Association DSM-5 categories, opioid use disorder is an unrestricted desire for the mentioned substance and taking it continuously regardless of social and health consequences (Dydyk, Jain & Gupta, 2021). Opioids have both systematic and chronic inflammation effects on the central nervous system. The important daily life activities and professional obligations are affected by its frequent use as craving. A strong desire for an opioid is hard to resist among those who become addicts. The immune system is said to weaken with its prolonged use, as studies have shown that opioid use disorder (OUD) has most likely to affect those who have had adverse childhood experiences (Bryant, Eaton & Li, 2021). It is most commonly called early life stress (ELS) compared to the general population, which can worsen up to the use of chronic level. The description of the substance could be best understood once its inflammatory properties and OUD are significantly interpreted with its biomarkers for prevention,...

…the social context due to the abnormalities within the brain, and predispositions of the neural pathways are believed to relapse with addiction patterns depending on opioid overdose (Kosten & George, 2002). Hyperalgesia is observed that derives from changes in the central nervous system, leading to mood effects, including dysphoria and euphoria (Rosenblum et al., 2008).

The addictive pattern also causes pleasurable effects, euphorigenic conditions, which could become likely serious if taken to reduce pain on a long-term basis. Moreover, iatrogenic addiction is also seen in people, although rare, implying the risk of biological substrate for opioid prompted craving (Rosenblum et al., 2008). When th larger picture of side effects is seen, the long-term use and addiction can cause breathing problems during the night, severe fractures, immune suppression, sustained constipation, bowel impediment, myocardial infarction, and tooth decay (Korff et al., 2011). Among men and women, erectile dysfunction and infertility could be sexual problems associated with its overdosage.

Treatment

The treatment for opioid use disorder includes opioid replacement therapy encompassing buprenorphine and methadone (Dydyk, Jain & Gupta, 2021). The risk of mortality and morbidity is decreased with this therapy with the use of naltrexone since it helps prevent relapse. The overdose of opioids is avoided by naltrexone. Further, research has suggested that medications for opioid use disorder (MOUDs) are seen as effective in reducing the impact of opioid use disorder (Hoffman, Terashima & McCarty, 2019). The withdrawal symptoms and cravings have become better with the approved use of methadone. The injection of opioids and its infectious addiction is seen reducing with methadone or buprenorphine.

Nonpharmacological behavioral therapy is another beneficial treatment plan that includes peer and family support (Dydyk, Jain & Gupta, 2021). Collaboration with mental health professionals is sought for conducting either individual or group therapies. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is considered the best for this aim.…