People seeking help from opioid or opiate addictions find treatment in many different types of rehab programs. Traditionally, the majority of programs were based on the 12 step model, but in recent years, there have been more non-12 step rehab centers. This rise is because addiction is different in everyone, and not every type of program will work for every individual. When rehab centers first became popular, the majority of people who utilized them were addicted to alcohol. Today, we are seeing more and more people who have addictions to opioids or opiates. While the terms opioids and opiates are often used interchangeably by the general population, there is a difference between the two.
Opioids Vs. Opiates
Your brain contains opioid receptors that control pain, pleasure, and addictive behaviors. Both opiates and opioids attach to these receptors when taken. Opiates are produced from natural ingredients such as the opium poppy flower. Drugs in this category include opium, morphine, and codeine. Traditionally, opioids were considered any synthetic or partially synthetic drug, such as Oxycontin, Hydrocodone, or Fentanyl, that act like an opiate in the body. The term has been updated, however. Now an opioid includes any substance that binds to the opioid receptors in the brain. This includes those made from natural sources. With this definition, all opiates are opioids, but not all opioids are opiates.
There is no difference between opiates and opioids when it comes to the way they bind to the opioid receptors of the brain. The results are the same. Addiction is also the same. Treatment for both is conducted with the same methods that are used with other drugs and may include a combination of:
- Group and Individual counseling
- Medical drug detox
- 12 Step support groups
- Art or equine therapy
- Acupuncture
No one treatment course fits all who have opioid addictions. What works will be determined by many factors that are determined by the individual.
Where Do Narcotics Fit into the Picture?
Now that you know the difference between opioids and opiates, you may wonder where the term narcotic fits into the picture. Is this yet another category or just a different name for the same thing? Narcotic is a term that many doctors are moving away from because of the negative connotation behind it. A narcotic is any medication that causes a stupor-type effect. Narcotics is the name of an entire category of drugs.
Is There a Difference Between Opioids and Opiates and Addiction?
In the opioids vs. opiates debate, there is no difference where addiction is concerned. It does not matter whether the drug is illegal or prescribed, natural or synthetic. All are equally addictive in this category. They both cause harm to both your body and mind. There is no difference between opioids and opiates when it comes to addiction and the devastation that often coincides with it.
Promises Behavioral Health Offers Hope and Healing
At Promises Behavioral Health, we make no difference between opioids and opiates when it comes to addiction. We don’t make a difference between any addiction, regardless of the substance. Our clients know we value health and healing and are here to see that you get your chance to put aside the substances that have held you hostage and rise to new heights. We offer you our hand, and you only have to reach out and take hold to start your new life today. 844.875.5609