When your doctor prescribes you medication, it may not occur to you that the drug might present a danger to you. However, the opioid crisis in the United States has taught us otherwise. Many people suffering from injuries or chronic ailments receive a prescription for opioids, including Percocet®, codeine, Vicodin®, oxycodone and fentanyl, and because of how incredibly addictive they are, anyone can face an opioid addiction or prescription drug addiction.
If you or someone you love has an opioid addiction, you aren’t alone. In 2018, a study revealed that 10.3 million Americans aged 12 and older misused opioids. In 2016, 297 out of every 100,000 hospital patients were hospitalized for opioid-related medical issues. In Texas in 2016, there were 1,375 opioid-related deaths. In some cases, people begin taking opioids prescribed by a doctor and then turn to heroin when they can no longer get prescriptions. Opioid usage isn’t a problem for just the inner cities; it’s moved into almost every community in the country. If you suspect that you or someone you love is suffering from opioid addiction, it’s important to recognize the signs and effects.