Opiate drugs can often cause drowsiness because they are depressants. This means that these drugs depress the central nervous system. It’s done to prevent the person from feeling pain when they are injured or when they’ve just gone through surgery. This same effect also causes the person to have a relaxed feeling when they abuse these drugs. 

If someone is addicted to opioids or opiates, he or she is probably taking them during the day. This allows them to make full use of the effects of the drug. This can cause the person to nod off during waking hours. Interestingly enough, opiates can also cause people to be restless when sleeping. Frequent, strange movements are quite likely. 

Mental confusion is another common sign of an opiate addiction. Opioid addicts may have a hard time remembering things they're told. They may suffer from temporary memory loss at times. They may also have trouble concentrating on tasks at any given time. 

As the addict may have slower cognitive function, they may be more likely to make wrong decisions or engage in risky behaviors.

This is in line with the fact that most drug addicts will feel like they’re ‘slowed down’ when on opioids. These drugs slow down the CNS and cause abusers to not only feel drowsy, but to have poor motor skills and coordination. This is because their nerves are no longer sending signals at a normal rate. They’ve slowed down considerably. 

As a result, the drug abuser may not act as quickly or swiftly. They’re reflexes may seem off. For example, they may not be able to catch things that are thrown at them. If they fall, they may not be able to cushion the fall with their arms.

If you're addicted to opioids, you may be noticing some changes to your eyes. You may find that your pupils are often constricted. They may tear up more than they normally do. They can even become red and bloodshot at times. 

Many opioid addicts complain of ongoing constipation. Sometimes, this can be difficult to resolve without a doctor's help. They may try over the counter constipation remedies like prune juice or laxatives. Sometimes these remedies work temporarily, but they often don't. 

If constipation is allowed to continue, it can lead to severe medical consequences. Opioid abusers have a higher risk of bowel blockages. Digestive issues like these are one of the more dangerous side effects of opiate addiction. 

Breathing may become more and more labored as opiate addiction continues. Addicts may find it difficult to take a deep breath. The way they breathe during sleep can also change dramatically. If this is not treated, or the drug abuse is not stopped, the individual’s life can be in danger. 

If you have noticed any of the above signs in yourself, or your loved one, an opiate addiction is probable. 

As neurochemical levels in the brain fluctuates, an opioid addict’s mood can change. Opioids affect dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain. These neurochemicals are responsible for regulating one’s emotions and cognition. They’re also involved with feelings of pleasure and motivation. 

As these neurochemical levels fluctuate, the addict’s mood will also fluctuate. They may seem depressed and anxious at times, and ecstatic and overjoyed moments later. It all depends on whether there is an influx of neurochemicals in their brain. More often than not, addicts will feel depressed. Some may even become suicidal. 

It’s important to note that the brain will make less and less of these chemicals. This can make these mood swings more and more erratic.

Baseball fans all probably know who Darren Prince is. He started a multi-million dollar baseball card company when he was just 14 years old. By the time that he was 25, he was already doing deals with celebrities, like Chevy Chase, Pamela Anderson and Muhammad Ali. His company was an industry leader in private autograph signings and memorabilia. 

Although many people admire his journey and success, Darren Prince has had struggles of his own. In particular, he was addicted to opioids. He first abused drugs when he was 12 years old, but the abuse continued on for many years into his adult life. 

While he was making these multi-million dollar deals, he also had many close calls with opioid overdoses. There were times when he couldn't function -- or even get out of bed -- without a prescription. 

Since then, Darren Prince has come a long way. He's sobered up. You, too, can follow his journey in his podcast with Dr. Bond. He goes into detail on how he first got hooked onto his drugs, and his personal journey to recovery.

In the podcast, Darren Prince discusses how he grew up in special education classrooms. This led him to feel like he always had something to prove. He felt less than other people, and he never felt like he was part of any group. He struggled with many subjects in school, which led him to have low self-confidence. 

"I was at camp, and had stomach pains when I was 12 years old... [This nurse] gave me this clear, plastic cough syrup cup with this green liquid, and it tasted absolutely horrible. But, within a couple of minutes where I was walking across the softball field to get back to the bunk, I felt like superman. Every single of inadequacy, insecurity, feeling of less than, not being a part of, it all went away in an instant... I was the good looking one, the smart one, the popular one." 

This feeling gave him the confidence that he needed to socialize with other boys in camp and to even flirt with the girls. He loved the feeling so much that he claimed that he had a stomachache for the next day in order to get more of the prescription painkiller. In fact, he claimed that he had a stomach ache for 3 weeks straight until his parents visited him at camp. 

This is how most opiate and opioid abuse start. It’s difficult to identify an opiate addict because the addict may appear as if they have a genuine need for the prescription. They may not have any outward signs of abuse or addiction. The main difference lies in how that person feels about himself or herself.

Ever since then, he chased that high. The prescription opioids were able to make him feel more confident in himself. As he grew older, he would play up any pain that he had, so he would be prescribed a variety of prescription opioids, like Percocet and oxycodone. 

He was able to hide his addiction for the majority of his adult life. He perfected the technique of slipping a prescription into his mouth without anyone noticing. He was a functioning addict. Much like how there are high-functioning alcoholics, there are also high-functioning drug addicts as well. 

There aren’t many signs and symptoms associated with opioid abuse. It can be difficult to identify a high-functioning addict. These addicts can still succeed in life and complete their daily chores and errands. They can even live with other addicts and still be in denial of their own situation.

“These people in recovery that were recovering alcoholics and drug addicts made me feel whole for the first time in my life. I could identify with what they were saying. I could understand their thought process. They started to love me before I could love myself. They showed me love. They showed me faith. They showed me hope.” 

Unfortunately, while an opioid addiction may not seem too damaging in the beginning, it can quickly spiral out of control. The addict will become dependent on the drugs to the point where they watch the rest of their life pass them by. For Darren Prince, his saving grace was going to a 12 step meeting.

Before you can begin any kind of rehab, you’ll need to get the drug out of your system. This is a much more challenging process than some people might lead you to believe if you’re addicted. 

You’ve probably heard comments like “You could stop if you wanted to” or “Just quit using and it will be okay.” What these people don’t realize is that drug addiction isn’t a battle of willpower. It’s a condition that has occurred because the drugs have altered your brain. Your system has become dependent on the drug, so you can’t just stop because you want to. 

You must go through a detox program. This process is designed to cleanse your system from the drug and help it relearn how to function normally without it. Your body won’t accept this change without a fight, which means you will have to go through withdrawal symptoms. If you go to a detox facility, you can make it through the process with some valuable resources and continued support.

One of the biggest issues with detoxing from opiate drugs is the risk of relapse before you complete the process. The withdrawal symptoms can become quite severe, and the addict is more likely to attempt to find some more of the drug to stop the withdrawals from kicking in. 

Several medications have been approved for opiate detox because of the seriousness of this process. Some medications, like antidepressants, help minimize specific symptoms. Sedatives may help with insomnia. Antidepressants may prevent depression and anxiety, and other drugs may reduce other physical symptoms. 

Other medications have been used to mimic the effects of opiates and opioids. These medications come with a lower potential for abuse. These drugs will often create a high, which is not as euphoric as the substance you’re detoxing from. However, it’s usually enough to prevent your brain from sending out alerts in the form of withdrawal symptoms. The danger with this method is that many of these drugs do have moderate addictive tendencies. It also slows down the detox process because it may be weeks or months before you can stop taking these medications and learn how to function on your own.

When it comes to addiction treatment, you have several options. However, for opiate abuse and addiction, inpatient rehab may be the best option. It allows you to focus solely on recovery with no distractions and no negative influences. You’re away from those who encouraged your drug abuse and those who put added stress on your life. 

Inpatient rehab usually lasts for a few weeks, up to 30 days. If you’re a long-term addict or you’ve been through treatment before and relapsed, you may find you need more time in therapy. If this is the case, you can find a residential rehab facility where you can stay for several months before you must go out on your own.

For those who cannot take time away from work or their family, outpatient rehab may be a much better option. If you choose this method of treatment, you’ll need a strong support system at home to be successful. 

You can also find intensive outpatient addiction treatment centers that provide even longer therapy sessions to help you deal with your addiction. You may spend several hours or all day in treatment before going home at night. 

When you’re doing your research and selecting the best rehab center to help you overcome your opiate addiction, you must think about what environment will be best for you and will work with your needs. You can tour the different centers to find one that makes you feel comfortable and offers you the services that you need.