Is It Possible to Die From Opioid Withdrawal?
Opioids are very powerful drugs that have a profound impact on a person’s brain and body, especially if they abuse them. Withdrawal from opioids can be a very intense, uncomfortable process as its effects can be very harsh on the body. Depending on what type of opioid a person uses, the physical and psychological drug withdrawal symptoms can last anywhere from a few days to more than a month. Depending on how it affects the body, can opioid withdrawal be fatal? While not common, it is possible to die from opioid withdrawal, which is why it’s so important to detox from opioids under direct medical supervision.
Table of contents
» What Happens to the Body During Opioid Withdrawal?
» What Are the Most Serious Complications of Opioid Withdrawal?
» Who Is Most at Risk of Death During Opioid Withdrawal?
» Are Certain Opioids More Dangerous to Withdraw From Than Others?
» Key Takeaways on Can Opioid Withdrawal be Fatal
» Resources
What Happens to the Body During Opioid Withdrawal?
Opioid withdrawal can cause severe effects on the entire body, some of which can potentially cause lasting damage.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are a type of drug that is either made naturally from the opium plant or is manufactured in a laboratory to mimic the natural effects of opium.
You may receive a prescription for an opioid medication for:
- Cancer pain management
- Managing pain after surgery or injury
- Treating chronic pain
Types of prescription opioids include:
- Codeine
- Fentanyl
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphone
- Methadone
- Morphine
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Tapentadol
There are also some illegal types of opioids, such as:
- Heroin
- Illegally manufactured fentanyl
How Do Opioids Affect the Body?
When you ingest an opioid, it binds and activates special receptors called opioid receptors in your brain. The opioid receptors help to block pain in the body, and also can invoke feelings of pleasure and happiness.
Opioids also trigger the release of the neurotransmitter and hormone dopamine. Known as the “feel-good” hormone, it plays a central part in activating your brain’s “reward system,” which drives motivation and can also make you feel very happy.
While you can naturally trigger dopamine by participating in activities you enjoy, reducing stress, and getting enough sleep, opioids cause an unnatural amount of the hormone to flood the brain.
This can cause the brain to constantly need larger and larger amounts of dopamine to feel good, leading to addiction and dependence.
How Addictive Are Opioids?
Because of the profound impact opioids have on the brain, they can be very addictive.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), most types of opioids are classified under Schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Substances under Schedule II are considered to have a high potential for abuse and severe psychological or physical dependence.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 8.9 million people ages 12 and older misused opioids in 2023.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, anyone who is ever prescribed an opioid is at risk of developing opioid use disorder, especially if they consider taking the medication past their doctor’s orders or by purchasing it off the street.
Signs and symptoms of opioid use disorder include:
- Decrease in physical activity
- Flu-like symptoms
- Increased absence from work, school, and activities
- Intense cravings
- Lack of basic hygiene
- Sleeping issues
- Stealing from family and friends
- Sudden financial issues
- Sweating
- Tiredness
- Weight loss
What Are the Most Serious Complications of Opioid Withdrawal?
Depending on the person and their situation, all opioid withdrawal symptoms should be considered very serious, as they have the potential to cause the body and overall health lasting harm.
Opioid withdrawal symptoms come in two phases—an early phase with symptoms that occur a few hours after your last opioid use, and later symptoms that appear 24 to 72 hours after your dose.
Early phase opioid withdrawal symptoms include:
- Anxiety
- Extreme sweating
- Increased respiratory rate
- Irritability
- Muscle aches
- Restlessness
- Runny Nose
- Sleeping issues
- Yawning
- Watery eyes
Late phase opioid withdrawal symptoms include:
- Body tremors
- Chills
- Diarrhea
- Dilated pupils
- Fast heartbeat
- Fever
- High blood pressure
- Goosebumps
- Nausea
- Psychological issues like depression, delirium, and mood swings
- Stomach cramps
- Vomiting
People who abuse opioids also increase their risk for long-term health complications, such as:
- Anxiety
- Cognitive impairment
- Concentrating problems
- Constipation
- Depression
- Heart issues
- Kidney disease
- Lingering physical pain
- Liver damage
- Permanent brain changes
- Respiratory issues
- Sleeping problems
- Weakened immune system
Who Is Most at Risk of Death During Opioid Withdrawal?
When thinking about whether opioid withdrawal is fatal or not, how potentially deadly your opioid withdrawal symptoms are depends on the type of opioid you abused, whether you were taking additional substances—such as alcohol or benzodiazepines like Xanax — and your current health.
Past research shows it is possible to die from opioid withdrawal. A study published in the journal Addiction reports that the two potentially deadliest withdrawal symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea. This is because if left untreated, it can lead to dehydration, elevated blood sodium levels, and ultimately, heart failure.
Studies have found that people who are not treated for opioid use disorder and have an opioid overdose have a higher mortality rate. A study published in the Substance Use & Addiction Journal reports that about 15.2% of people treated for an opioid overdose die within one year of treatment.
And mixing opioids with other substances, such as “benzos” or alcohol, can also increase the potential of dying from drug withdrawal. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that almost 14% of opioid-involved overdose deaths in 2021 also included benzodiazepine use. And a study published in JAMA Network Open reports that opioid overdose deaths in conjunction with alcohol use increased from 12.4% in 1999 to 14.7% in 2017.
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Are Certain Opioids More Dangerous to Withdraw From Than Others?
While all opioids have the potential for extreme withdrawal side effects, certain types can be more dangerous to withdraw from than others.
The main factors that influence how severe your opioid withdrawal experience may be are:
- How long have you’ve been taking the drug.
- The dosage you’re using.
- Whether you’re taking a short-acting or long-acting opioid.
- Your overall health.
Can opioid withdrawal be fatal? Potentially depending on the type of opioid you’re addicted to, how long you’ve been abusing the drug, and your current health. This is why it’s not recommended for people with opioid use disorder to try to quit “cold turkey” without any type of medical supervision.
Medical drug detox in Florida can help keep you comfortable while undergoing opioid withdrawal. Your symptoms will be kept under medical supervision in case a doctor needs to step in to provide you with more support. Once through opioid withdrawal, your mental health professional will provide rehabilitation and treatment options to help you stay on your journey to an addiction-free life.
Key Takeaways on Can Opioid Withdrawal be Fatal
- Opioids are potent drugs that have a high risk of addiction and dependence.
- Opioid withdrawal can be severe and uncomfortable.
- Withdrawal symptoms usually come in two waves — an early phase and a late phase.
- Can opioid withdrawal be fatal? Possibly, depending on how extreme your withdrawal symptoms are, if you’re taking opioids with another substance, and your overall health.
- Because of how severe opioid withdrawal symptoms can be, it’s important not to try to quit “cold turkey,” but instead seek out medical detox under medical supervision.
If you or a loved one is suffering from opioid withdrawal symptoms and wants to turn their life around, don’t let them do it alone. An addiction treatment center like WhiteSands Treatment is fully committed to providing supportive, compassionate care throughout the entire detox and rehabilitation process. And our medical detox program helps ensure you stay safe when dealing with severe opioid withdrawal symptoms.
Call WhiteSands Treatment in Florida today at 877-855-3470 to learn more about our opioid detox and rehabilitation programs.
Resources
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) — Drug Scheduling
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) — Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
- Johns Hopkins Medicine — Opioid Use Disorder
- Addiction — Yes, people can die from opiate withdrawal
- Substance Use & Addiction Journal — One-Year Mortality of Patients Treated with Naloxone for Opioid Overdose by Emergency Medical Services
- National Institute on Drug Abuse — Benzodiazepines and Opioids
- JAMA Network Open — Alcohol or Benzodiazepine Co-involvement With Opioid Overdose Deaths in the United States, 1999-2017
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
