Researchers Say Anxiety And Mood Disorders Linked to Opioid Abuse

Results from a new study by John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health show that anxiety and mood disorders are largely associated with the use of non-medical opioids. People who suffer from disorders such as bipolar, major depression disorders and panic are more likely to abuse prescription opioids, researchers say.

According to a recent article, nonmedical use of such prescription opioids as OxyContin has increased radically. SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) reports that prescription opioids are second highest in the United States as a frequently used illegal drug only to marijuana. These types of opioids are highly addictive and prolonged use of them can cause neurological changes as well as physiological dependence.

There was also evidence that the relationship works both ways. There was an increased risk for incident opioid disorders when nonmedical use happened with participants who already had major depressive disorders, mood disorders, and panic disorders.

This only reinforced the fact that participants with such mood disorders may use these nonmedical opioids to ease their mood symptoms. Early treatment of these types of disorders may reduce the risk for self medication with opioids and possibly reduce the risk of a future development of this type of disorder.

The definition of nonmedical use of these opioids is using a prescription based opioid if you don’t have a prescription or you use it in higher amounts more frequently or for a longer period than prescribed. If you using for reasons other than your doctor’s instructions you are also using it “non-medically.”

Researchers believe these findings support a two-way path between opioid use disorders because of nonmedical use and nonmedical prescription opioid usage and many anxiety and mood disorders.