Common symptoms of withdrawal from opioids include anxiety, rapid heartbeat, nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. This addiction and withdrawal can make everyday life feel far more difficult. Sometimes people who abuse prescription opioids get them for free from a friend or family member who did not use their full prescription. This is why it is important to immediately and properly dispose of unused opioid prescriptions.

Opioid users can develop a tolerance to the drug over time. This actually INCREASES the likelihood of an overdose, as users often take more than intended while trying to produce the same effects.