What to know about opioid use disorder
Opioid use disorder causes people to use opioids despite negative consequences to their health, relationships, or lives. Learn more.
6 min readIf they try to stop using opioids, they may be unable to. They may also avoid quitting because they use opioids to function as usual. Over time, they may also build up a tolerance, increasing their risk of an overdose.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) refers to opioid overdose as an epidemic. Between 1999 and 2022, almost 727,000 Opens in a new window people died of overdoses involving opioids. Since 2013, fentanyl has played a central role in the epidemic.
Knowing the signs of an OUD can help a person seek help. Treatment works and can save a person’s life.
Learn about OUD, symptoms, treatment options, and more.
What is opioid use disorder?
OUD means that Opens in a new window a person is psychologically and physically dependent on opioids. They cannot stop using the drugs even when they try. Additionally, they may not want to stop despite the negative consequences because they cannot function as usual without opioids.
Prescription, nonprescription, and illegal opioids can all lead to OUD. It is possible for a person to develop OUD for which a person has a valid medical prescription, especially with prolonged use.
Some examples of opioids include:
- fentanyl
- codeine
- morphine
- oxycodone
- heroin
Prolonged use of opioids changes how the brain and body respond to the drugs. Eventually, a person develops a tolerance, meaning they need larger doses of the drug to get the same results they once did. Tolerance increases the risk of overdose and is also an important symptom of addiction.
Over time, the body becomes dependent on opioids. When people attempt to stop using them, they experience physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms that may cause them to return to using the drug.
Severe withdrawal without medical support can be Opens in a new window life threatening.
Symptoms
Continuing to use opioids despite negative consequences — such as job difficulties, relationship challenges, worsening health, or financial struggles — is the hallmark Opens in a new window of OUD.
Some other symptoms include:
- being dependent on opioids to feel happy, healthy, or function as usual
- experiencing withdrawal when a person attempts to quit using
- prioritizing opioid use above other pursuits
- breaking the law to get opioids
- putting oneself or others in danger to get opioids
- personality changes due to opioid use — for example, a person might become aggressive or steal from loved ones
Diagnosis
Doctors rely on symptoms Opens in a new window to diagnose OUD.
They may also perform blood or urine screenings for opioids to assess whether a person uses opioids and is at risk for addiction.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR), requires that a person must have at least two of the following symptoms to warrant a diagnosis Opens in a new window:
- taking opioids in larger quantities or for longer than recommended by a doctor
- a desire to quit using, or unsuccessful efforts to quit
- craving opioids
- devoting significant time or effort to obtaining opioids
- not fulfilling major obligations due to opioids
- giving up important activities, such as at work or with family, because of opioids
- using opioids when it is dangerous to do so, such as while driving
- using opioids despite having a condition that opioids make worse
- tolerance for opioids
- physical or psychological withdrawal symptoms when a person stops or delays using
The International Classification of Diseases lists several subtypes of opioid addiction and dependence. The criteria for an OUD include Opens in a new window the following:
- a compulsion or strong desire to use opioids
- difficulty controlling their opioid use
- physiological withdrawal symptoms when a person quits or delays their use of opioids
- neglecting other sources of pleasure, such as sports, hobbies, or time with families
- continuing to use opioids despite negative consequences
Disorder vs. dependence
Although dependence is a hallmark of OUD, it is not the only symptom.
Dependence means a person becomes physically dependent on a chemical such as opioids. OUD or addiction means that Opens in a new window a person also loses control over their behavior surrounding the opioid.
A person taking opioids under medical supervision might be physically dependent. However, they do not have OUD if they use only the recommended amount and do not show other signs of addiction, such as being preoccupied with opioids.
Causes
Prolonged use of opioids, especially at high doses, is the key risk factor in OUD. However, certain people may have a higher risk than others.
Researchers believe Opens in a new window a complex interaction of biological, environmental, and psychological risk factors plays a role. They have not discovered a single gene that predicts opioid use nor determined with specificity why some people develop addictions and others do not.
Some risk factors include Opens in a new window:
- a family history of addiction
- having an untreated mental health condition
- living in an environment that encourages misuse
- past substance misuse
Treatment and recovery
Treatment for OUD has three prongs:
- addressing any issues that led to the condition, such as untreated mental health conditions or chronic pain
- reducing withdrawal symptoms
- managing the psychological challenges of OUD
Medication can help manage Opens in a new window opioid withdrawal. A doctor may recommend methadone or buprenorphine to reduce symptoms.
Additionally, a person will need support. Psychotherapy, support groups, and residential treatment may help.
People who have underlying medical conditions will also need supportive medical care. This may include alternative medications for pain or treatment for conditions such as depression.
Frequently asked questions
The following section answers common questions regarding opioid misuse.
How does OUD happen?
OUD occurs when a person develops a tolerance to and a dependence on opioids and continues using them despite negative consequences. The process is gradual, but the time it takes varies from person to person.
Who is most at risk for OUD?
Anyone who uses opioids can become Opens in a new window addicted. Those at the highest risk use opioids without medical supervision or at higher or more frequent doses than a doctor recommends.
People with a personal or family history of substance misuse and those with chronic pain or untreated mental health conditions also have a high risk.
What happens to people with OUD?
OUD can affect Opens in a new window a person’s job, education, and relationships. It can erode their health, causing organ damage and illness. An overdose can also be fatal.
Summary
OUD is a serious medical condition where a person continues to use opioids despite negative consequences to their health and relationships. It requires medical treatment — not willpower — to cure.
People who develop OUD should contact a doctor or mental health professional for treatment and guidance.
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