Addiction Self-Assessment for Compulsive Opioid Misuse

Some individuals may struggle with the question of whether or not their opioid use has become problematic, or if they should seek treatment for opioid addiction. In this article, we will provide a brief overview of opioids, discuss the adverse effects of opioid use, examine when opioid use may be considered problematic, and review the signs of opioid addiction. We will also provide information about opioid addiction treatment and talk about how these symptoms are managed.

What Are Opioids?

Opioids are a type of drug usually prescribed to relieve moderate to severe pain, such as after surgery or injury.¹ Anybody who is prescribed opioids is at risk of misuse, overdose, or addiction. Opioids also carry considerable side effects, including the development of a tolerance and physiological dependence.¹ This includes both prescription opioids as well as heroin, which is never used for medical purposes, and fentanyl, which is used in both medical settings and diverted or manufactured for sale on the street.²

Common prescription opioids used for medical purposes are oxycodone, fentanyl, morphine, and methadone.¹ Opioids used in medical settings can also be diverted from hospitals and clinics and sold illegally or produced and distributed illegally.³ In the United States, synthetic opioids (such as fentanyl) are the most common drugs involved in drug overdose deaths.³

What Are the Health Risks of Opioid Use?

Opioid use can produce both short- and long-term risks to your health, including an increased risk of misuse, addiction, and overdose.¹ There were nearly 5 times as many overdose fatalities involving prescription opioids in the United States in 2021 than in 1999.¹

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as a treatable, chronic disease characterized by the compulsive use of substances that continues despite significant, harmful consequences.⁴

If you are taking opioids in a way other than how they were prescribed to you, such as to get high, or in escalating doses, you may experience more intense or severe side effects as a result.²

Is My Opioid Use Problematic?

Acknowledging that opioid use has become problematic is a difficult position to be in. Some of the behaviors to look out for might include asking for refills of prescribed opioids early, seeking them out from sources other than your doctor or pharmacy, or frequently requesting an increase in your dosage at follow-up appointments.⁵

Other signs might include experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you are not taking opioids or significantly reduce your use or becoming overly sedated or notably less active in your daily life.⁵

If you are concerned that you or someone you know may have disordered opioid use, consider taking our online assessment to find out more information:

What Are the Signs of Opioid Addiction?

Opioid addiction is diagnosed as an opioid use disorder (OUD) by a medical or mental health professional. A person can be diagnosed with opioid use disorder if a doctor or mental health professional determines they meet two or more of the diagnostic criteria for opioid use disorder within a 12-month period, as laid out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5).⁶

The number of criteria that are met can indicate the level of severity of opioid addiction.⁶ The DSM-5 classifies 2–3 symptoms as mild addiction, 4–5 symptoms as moderate, and 6 or more symptoms as severe addiction.^6,7

How to Get Help for Opioid Addiction

Opioid addiction treatment is a highly personal experience and typically individualized to the needs of the patient.⁸ In general, addiction treatment may begin with medical detox (if needed), followed by either inpatient or outpatient drug and alcohol rehab. When treatment is over, aftercare or continuing care can help prevent relapse.

Medically assisted detox is typically the first component of opioid addiction treatment, with a focus on managing the physical symptoms of withdrawal and stabilizing the patient before they transition to a rehab program.⁹ Rehab treatment can occur in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Inpatient addiction treatment, takes place in a hospital or clinic setting, where patients stay overnight for 24-hour care while participating in treatment.⁹ Outpatient rehab follows a day treatment model, where patients attend treatment for a set number of hours during the day and return to their homes at night.⁹

Behavioral therapy in an individual or group setting is one of the two pillars of treatment for OUD and includes educating people about their disease and how to manage it, including relapse prevention skills.⁹

The second pillar of treatment for OUD is medication. Medications like buprenorphine or methadone are used during treatment for opioid addiction to reduce withdrawal symptoms and to manage cravings or urges.¹⁰ Whether or not your treatment plan includes medication, and which medication you receive, will be individualized to your needs based on the recommendations of a medical provider.¹⁰

Many treatment programs also include aftercare planning. Also known as continuing care, aftercare can include individual therapy, attending 12-Step group meetings, and continuing to take medications for OUD. Aftercare components typically focus on relapse prevention tools that can be used after formal treatment ends.⁹

If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid addiction, help is available today. Treatment can be highly effective when it is personalized to the patient’s unique needs. Don’t hesitate to reach out for more information about what treatment options might be right for you.

For more information about treatment programs near you, visit the Rehabs.com online treatment directory. You can also call American Addictions Centers (AAC) at to speak with an admissions navigator about your options. You can also use AAC’s website to verify your insurance benefits to make sure rehab is covered.