Opioid Addiction, Effects, and Treatment Options
Opioid misuse is a serious and widespread issue in the U.S. If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid addiction, professional treatment can help.
Opioid Use Disorder & Rehab
About Opioid Misuse
Treatment Programs
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are a class of drugs that includes prescription painkillers, such as morphine, codeine, oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and pharmaceutical fentanyl; treatment medications for opioid use disorder, such as methadone and buprenorphine; as well as illegal substances, such as heroin and potent, illicitly manufactured synthetic opioids such as fentanyl analogs (e.g., carfentanil) and nitazines (e.g., isotonitazine or “iso”).1,2
Doctors have used prescription opioids to treat acute or chronic pain, severe cough, and diarrhea for centuries. When used appropriately under medical supervision, prescription opioids can be safe and effective. However, these medications are sometimes shared, sold, or used illegally for non-medical purposes.2
All opioids, whether licit or illicit, carry a risk of misuse, addiction, and overdose. Opioid use is a major contributor to the nation’s drug crisis and the leading cause of fatal overdoses in the U.S., with most recent deaths involving illicitly manufactured fentanyl and other dangerous synthetic opioids.1–3
Effects & Risks of Opioid Misuse
Opioid misuse is associated with a range of serious risks and effects that can impact a person’s health and well-being. Opioids work by binding to specific receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract. In doing so, they minimize the body’s perception of pain and produce a sense of euphoria or “high.”2
But at the same time, opioids can also negatively affect the body’s other vital systems. Opioid misuse increases the risk of severe respiratory depression (i.e., slowed or stopped breathing) and overdose, which can lead to coma and death.2
Opioid Addiction
What Is Opioid Addiction?
Opioid addiction is a chronic, yet treatable brain disorder that involves uncontrollable drug use and drug-seeking behaviors despite the negative consequences. Repeated substance use can alter areas of the brain related to reward and self-control. These brain changes can be long-lasting and are part of the reason that relapse remains a risk well after a person gets sober.16–18
In 2023, an estimated 5.7 million people aged 12 and older were diagnosed with an opioid addiction.5
Signs of an Opioid Addiction
Medical professionals use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) to diagnose an opioid addiction, which is clinically known as opioid use disorder (OUD). The signs of an opioid use disorder include:16
- Taking larger amounts of an opioid or for a longer time period than intended.
- A lingering feeling of wanting to reduce or give up opioid use but not succeeding in doing so.
- Spending too much time seeking, using, or recovering from opioids.
- Craving opioids.
- Using opioids even though they have been interfering with work, academic, or home obligations.
- Using opioids even though they have been causing relationship problems.
- Giving up important or enjoyable activities or hobbies to use opioids.
- Continuing to use opioids despite knowing that it causes or worsens physical or mental health problems.
- Repeatedly using opioids in situations where doing so is physically hazardous (e.g., while driving).
- Using opioids despite feeling their effects less intensely or needing more to feel the same effects (tolerance).
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when stopping or reducing opioid use. (This criterion is not considered to be met for those taking opioids solely as directed by a physician.)
The severity (mild, moderate or severe) of the disease is measured by the number of criteria a person exhibits.16
Treatment for Opioid Addiction
Opioid addiction is a chronic illness with a high relapse risk, but it can be treated. Many people with OUD lead fulfilling lives in recovery. Effective treatment of opioid use disorder often employs types of rehab across a continuum of care.17,19,20
Opioid Addiction Treatment in Las Vegas
If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid addiction, we can help. Our inpatient rehab in Las Vegas offers different types of addiction treatment and personalized treatment plans designed to meet the individual needs of each patient.
Call to speak with one of our admissions navigators who can discuss your treatment options and answer any questions you may have about paying for rehab, using insurance to pay for rehab, and more.
It’s never too late to get the help you deserve. When you’re ready to reach out, we can help you begin the path to recovery and start treatment today.
Opioid FAQs
Common signs include using more opioids than prescribed or intended, spending significant time obtaining or recovering from use, cravings, withdrawal symptoms between doses, continuing use despite negative consequences at work, home, or in relationships, and needing higher doses to achieve the same effect. Opioids include prescription painkillers (like oxycodone and hydrocodone), heroin, and fentanyl.
Opioid withdrawal typically starts within 8–24 hours of the last dose and includes muscle aches, anxiety, sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and intense cravings. Acute symptoms usually peak within 72 hours and taper off over 5–10 days, though some symptoms, like cravings and low mood, can linger longer. Withdrawal is rarely life-threatening on its own, but it’s extremely uncomfortable and has a high relapse risk without support.
Medical detox is strongly recommended. Because opioid withdrawal is intense and relapse risk is high — and because relapsing after a period of abstinence raises overdose risk due to lowered tolerance — supervised detox with 24/7 medical staff and access to comfort medications gives patients the best chance of stabilizing safely before starting therapy.
Yes. Desert Hope’s medical team can incorporate FDA-approved medications as part of a broader treatment plan to reduce cravings and withdrawal severity, alongside individual therapy, group counseling, and aftercare planning. The specific approach is determined by a physician based on each patient’s history and needs.
The clinical approach — detox, therapy, relapse prevention — is similar, but fentanyl’s potency and shorter half-life can mean withdrawal onset and cravings hit sooner and harder, and overdose risk is significantly higher due to inconsistent street-drug dosing. Desert Hope’s medical team adjusts detox protocols accordingly. See our Fentanyl Addiction and Heroin Addiction pages for substance-specific detail.
Program length depends on individual needs. Desert Hope offers short-term (7+ day) detox, 30-day, and 60+ day programs, with outpatient step-down care afterward. Longer stays are generally associated with better long-term outcomes, but the right length is a clinical decision made with your treatment team.
Desert Hope accepts most commercial insurance plans, including Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare/Optum, Anthem BCBS, Humana, and others. Desert Hope is not currently in network with Medicare or Medicaid. You can check your coverage online or call 702-848-6223 to verify benefits.
