Opioid Addiction

Understanding and treating opioid use disorder

Opioids are powerful drugs that act on the brain to dull the senses. They include both illegal drugs as well as opioid medications that doctors prescribe to relieve pain, such as after serious injury or surgery. Unfortunately, people can become addicted to opioids even when they are prescribed by a doctor.

Many people in the Detroit area and throughout Michigan struggle with opioid addiction, also known as opioid use disorder. But there is hope, even for people who have tried treatment before. Our addiction specialists provide comprehensive treatment to people who need help to overcome opioid addiction.

Opioids include both synthetic, or artificial, drugs and those created from natural resources. These naturally derived drugs are sometimes called opiates. Some examples of opioids include:

• Codeine
• Fentanyl, a medication for severe chronic pain that may be abused in illegal/street drugs
• Heroin
• Hydrocodone, including Lortab, Vicodin, and other brands
• Morphine
• Oxycodone, including OxyContin

Who is at risk for opioid addiction?

As opioids have become more available, both through prescription and nonprescription uses, more people in our area have struggled with this type of substance use disorder. Opioid addiction is one of the two types of addiction we treat most often (along with alcohol addiction).

You may develop opioid addiction through:

• Long-term use of opioid pain killers
• Using illegal drugs or drugs that are not prescribed by a doctor
• Using opioids in ways other than what a doctor prescribes

Opioid addiction can affect anyone. However, we often treat patients for this condition who share certain characteristics, including:

• Younger age, including teens and adults ages 18 to 30
• May use/abuse more than one type of drug, known as polysubstance-use disorder, with opioids as their preferred substance
• Often start by using/abusing prescription medications and progressing to heroin, or other street medications
• Patients with chronic pain  may be at risk for addiction to pain medication without ever progressing to illegal/street drugs

Treatment options

Opioid addiction is medical condition that requires expert care to treat. Like any other illness, our addiction team treats opioid addiction with techniques backed by the latest science and research. We work with patients and their loved ones to create comprehensive, personalized treatment plans that meet their needs.

Treatment plans may include detoxification (also known as detox) and medication-assisted treatment. Your treatment plan will depend on your medical needs and level of support from loved ones.

Listen to addiction specialist Elizabeth Bulat, M.D., discuss combating our country’s opioid epidemic.