context: One of the most frequent reasons people go to the doctor is for pain relief. There are a number of different drugs that can ease pain. About 20% of people will get a medication called an opioid. You could also hear your doctor call it an opiate or a narcotic. These pain relievers are made from opium, which comes from the poppy plant. Morphine and codeine are the two natural products of opium. Man-made versions of morphine produce the other opioids: Fentanyl ( Duragesic) Heroin, a street drug Hydrocodone with acetaminophen ( Lorcet, Lortab, Vicodin) Hydrocodone ( Hysingla ER, Zohydro ER) Hydromorphone ( Dilaudid, Exalgo) Methadone Oxycodone ( Oxy Contin) Oxycodone with acetaminophen ( Percocet) Oxycodone with aspirin ( Percodan) Meperidine ( Demerol) These drugs are generally safe when you take them for a short time, as prescribed by your doctor. But in addition to helping you manage the pain, they can also give you a feeling of well-being or euphoria. And each of those effects could lead you to misuse the drug or take it in a way your doctor didn't intend. You might: Take a higher dose than prescribed Take someone else's prescription, even for a legitimate problem, like pain Take it to get high It's a widespread problem. In 2015, approximately 2 million Americans : had substance abuse disorders related to opioid medications. For years we used terms like opioid abuse, drug abuse, drug dependence, and drug addiction interchangeably. But the guidelines doctors use to diagnose these issues no longer contain the terms abuse or dependence. Your doctor will look for these symptoms if he thinks you have opioid use disorder ( OUD): Using more of the drugs or using them longer than you intended Can't control or cut down use Spend lots of time finding drugs or recovering from use Have a strong desire or urge to use Use despite legal or social problems Stop or cut down important activities Use while doing something dangerous, like driving Use despite physical or mental problems Become tolerant -- need more of the drug or need to take it more often Have withdrawal -- physical symptoms when you try to stop Your condition could be: Mild: 2-3 symptoms Moderate: 4-5 symptoms Severe: 6 or more symptoms If you spot the signs of dependence on the drug or your doctor thinks you have a problem, there is treatment. The first step is to stop taking the drug. Your doctor can slowly lower your dose over a few weeks. You might have symptoms like: Continue Reading Below Anxiety Irritability Craving for the drug Rapid breathing Yawning Runny nose Salivation Goosebumps Nasal stuffiness Muscle aches Vomiting Abdominal cramping Diarrhea Sweating Confusion Enlarged pupils Tremors Loss of appetite While they aren't medically dangerous, these symptoms can be painful and hard to live with. The unpleasantness leads to continued drug abuse. In general, the length and harshness of opioid drug withdrawal depends on the drug you are using and the amount you have been taking. Your doctor can give you medicines to help prevent withdrawal symptoms, a process called detoxification (detox). The most common ones are buprenorphine ( Buprenex, Butrans, Probuphine), methadone ( Methadose Dolophine), and naltrexone and naltrexone ( Revia). Lofexidine hydrochloride ( Lucemyra) is a non-opioid drug that can be used to ease the symptoms in rapid detoxification. for up to 14 days if needed. After withdrawal is complete, you're no longer physically dependent on the drug. But you could still be psychologically hooked. You might be more likely to relapse when you're under stress or if you're exposed to other powerful triggers. Substance abuse disorder is a chronic illness, which means you'll have it for the rest of your life. Most people have a relapse at some point. Some people take the medications that help manage withdrawal symptoms, or other drugs like them, for years. You can also benefit from behavioral therapy. It can help you: Manage cravings Build healthy habits and thoughts Avoid triggers that could lead to relapse Therapy could be just you as an individual, it could include your entire family, or you could be part of a group with similar issues. It can help you work on relationships and your role at work and in the community.