Columbus, OH,
13
March
2020
|
19:38 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

ABC6: How Addicting Are Opioids?

In a recent interview with ABC6, Krisanna Deppen, MD, addiction medicine physician, talked about opioid addiction – how it is a disease and not a choice.

"People develop a physical tolerance, independence and once they stop using they develop pretty severe withdrawal which keeps people continuing to use. Even when they're not trying to get high they're just trying not to be sick,” Dr. Deppen told ABC6 reporter Jackie Orozco.

Dr. Deppen also stressed that opioid use disorder is a lifelong chronic medical condition.“Once somebody has an opioid use disorder that is something they need to manage in some shape or form for the rest of their life. This is a chronic medical condition just like diabetes or heart disease.”

To see the full story and hear about one woman’s journey, click on the ABC6 logo below.

To read more about the opioid epidemic, click here.