If you’ve ever had major surgery, or dealt with severe pain, a doctor may have prescribed you a type of opioid. Depending on the type of pain you are experience, these medications can be an effective option for managing pain, but they’re meant to be a short-term solution.
When you take opioids for long periods of time, you might develop a tolerance, a dependence, and eventually an addiction. Opioid addiction is known as an opioid use disorder.
Dr. Avery is the vice chair of Addiction Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
References
American Health & Drug Benefits. (2011). Strategies to prevent opioid misuse, abuse, and diversion that may also reduce the associated costs.
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Opioid use disorder.
Johns Hopkins Medicine. (n.d.). The science of addiction.
MedlinePlus. (2022). Opiate and opioid withdrawal.
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