Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate narcotic pain reliever that is highly addictive. Morphine use can quickly turn into addiction when the drug is used without following doctor’s orders. A person who often uses morphine recreationally will suddenly discover he or she cannot function without it. The body becomes accustomed to opiates after two weeks of use, and after that, the craving effects of the drug cause a person to use more and more morphine.As with other opiates, morphine slows heart rate and breathing, causes euphoria, and can lead to unconsciousness, cardiac arrest, coma, and even death.
Morphine is an opiate derived from the poppy plant. Street names for this drug include Miss Emma, Roxanol, Duramorph, M, and White Stuff. Morphine is available in tablet, syrup, suppository, or injectable solution. It can be swallowed, injected, or even smoke, depending on the form. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported that more than 23 million people sought treatment for illicit drug and alcohol addiction in 2009. Opiates, like morphine, account for the largest percentage of drug-related admissions to treatment facilities (20 percent).
Effects of Morphine
Morphine affects several regions of the brain that alter perception of pleasure and pain, resulting in euphoria or a “high” when it is used. Short-term effects include drowsiness, relaxation, and nausea. Long-term use of this drug will lead to a physical dependence and tolerance, which is where a person requires more and more of a substance to achieve the desired effect. People taking opioid medicines should follow directions of medical personnel to avoid addiction and dependence.
Withdrawal Symptoms
If a person is addicted to morphine, withdrawal symptoms are likely when he or she does not have the drug. The drug cravings bypass a person’s ability to make rational decisions and choices, and overdose can occur when a person uses too much morphine. The unpleasant withdrawal sickness, also called dope sickness, involves muscle cramps, body aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, depression, chills, sweats, restlessness, and irritability.
Rehabilitation (rehab) centers often use Narconon to counteract the withdrawal effects a person experiences. The center will give nutritional supplements, such as vitamin C, B complex, calcium, and magnesium. This prevents the spasms, cramps, and other bodily aches that occur with withdrawal from morphine. Withdrawal symptoms will begin as early as 6 hours after the last morphine dose when a person is using it on a regular basis.
Causes of Morphine Addiction
- Genetic – Morphine addiction is heritable, and those with a first-degree relative who abuses a substance experience higher risk of opioid addiction compared to the general population.
- Environmental – Depending on how a person was raised, many families are more liberal with pain medications than others. A person exposed to the environment where opioid drugs are commonplace is more likely to use this substance.
- Brain structure and chemistry – Morphine affects certain pleasure chemicals of the brain by stimulating the structures to release these chemicals. Endogenous opioids are natural occurring and produced by the brain, so morphine binds to these receptor sites to produce euphoria.
Resources
http://www.samhsa.gov/csatdisasterrecovery/featuredreports/Abrupt%20Withdrawal.pdf
http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/research/job185drugs/morphine.htm