Recovering from Morphine Addiction

Recovering from Morphine Addiction

Synopsis  Everything to Know About the Morphine Addiction Crisis  Morphine Addiction  The Path of Morphine Addiction  Morphine Addiction - The historical beginnings and problem of today  Morphine: The Classic Drug  Oxycontin Addiction & Families  Oxycontin Addiction  Oxycontin Addiction  Oxycontin Addiction  Oxycontin: A Drug of Dependence  Fentanyl Addiction  Fentanyl Addiction  What Is Fentanyl?  Symptoms of Fentanyl Addiction  Fentanyl Addiction

Everything to Know About the Morphine Addiction Crisis  Morphine addiction also arose from the treatment of soldiers during the Civil War. Its euphoric effects were utilized in aiding soldiers from both sides who faced horrific wounds. Later, it was discovered after the dust from the war settled that these veteran soldiers were now reliant on morphine.  Withdrawal symptoms include:  Cramps and nausea  Drainage; from eyes or nose  Dizziness and light-headedness  Agitation  Vomiting  Failure to concentrate  Depression and anxiety  Decrease in appetite

Morphine Addiction  A person becomes addicted to a drug, substance or behaviour when the activity or use becomes an irresistible and compulsive urge. Addiction is characterized by the addict’s loss of control over his or her usage. Addicts often take several drugs at once including alcohol which increases the odds of addiction.  The use of morphine produces several recognizable side effects: confusion, dizziness, itchy skin, constricted pupils, and extreme drowsiness. Once a person begins to abuse morphine his or her health begins to decline. The person may alternate between sleep and alertness, get sick often from a weakened immune system, hallucinate and may contract blood-born diseases. Outwardly the addict may fake injuries to obtain morphine, exhibit poor personal hygiene, appear distracted and unable to concentrate, have needle marks, steal, have new friends and withdrawal from former friends and family.  Prolonged use of morphine creates physical changes. When an addict stops using, he or she may experience several withdrawal symptoms. Many addicts in withdrawal have diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, anxiety, rapid heartbeat and breathing, insomnia, chills, loss of appetite, joint or muscle pain, sweating, runny nose, and weakness. Avoiding these symptoms reinforces the addict’s desire to continue abusing morphine.

The Path of Morphine Addiction  Morphine addiction can be treated, although due to the extremely addictive nature of the drug and the high tolerance users have, detoxing can be extremely hard, often causing relapses if a strong support network isn’t ready to keep the user on track. Symptoms of withdrawal are similar to the symptoms of morphine use, such as fast breathing, insomnia, weakness, pain, sweating, and chills.  Many support clinics exist to help deal with morphine addiction, and medical detox in a controlled environment is considered one of the best ways to deal with the addiction because of the strong support and accountability patients are given to ensure they stick with the process and don’t give up detoxing and relapse. The programs also target the damaged relationships and mental health troubles that have been caused by morphine addiction, and although these processes take longer they can help return a morphine user back to some semblance of a normal life by helping them avoid relapse triggers and restoring broken trust. Other aspects of certain programs include time in meditation, saunas, and sticking to a strict diet in order to let the body flush out the morphine on its own.

Morphine Addiction - The historical beginnings and problem of today  Morphine was discovered in 1804 by a German scientist. This scientist separated this drug from opium. It is true that morphine is derived from the poppy plant. This drug became widely popular during the civil war. Morphine was used for wounded soldiers and the aftermath of that was a huge addiction problem with over 40,000 soldiers.  Morphine works on the central nervous system and can be taken several different ways. It can be taken by pill, syrup, liquid, or suppository. It is a scheduled two controlled narcotic but can be prescribed by a physician. Morphine is used as a painkiller. Commonly used after surgery or to help chronic pain issues. Unfortunately, it now has become the most addictive drug with a high rate of relapse after rehabilitation.  Morphine has become such a problem of today because worldwide there is about 40 million people who are addicted to morphine. In the United States it has accounted for over 20,000 deaths. Once morphine is taken, a person’s breathing is slowed. This becomes serious in an overdose because it can stop the lung function.

Morphine: The Classic Drug  Morphine is a drug that has a good use. People that use this drug for the right reasons can experience a relief and become able to function in daily life. When an addiction begins in a loved one there are signs one can see. These signs include the following.  Shallow breathing  Faint or dizziness  Confusion  Low blood pressure  Constricted pupils  Cold or clammy skin  Circulatory collapse  Cardiac Arrest  Coma

Oxycontin Addiction & Families  Oxycontin addicts get so caught up in the high they may not see what this addiction can do to their families. There are a lot of unfortunate effects which happen to families. The loss of relationships is number one. This loss can lead to divorces, loss of children, and extended families having to turn away from them. The families of addicts can be torn apart. A member of a family may become violent, lie, and steal in order to get their drug of choice. This can then lead to a person becoming homeless.  The families of oxycontin addicts can help their loved one to overcome. When approaching that loved one, make sure the research has been done. Make sure all the knowledge needed is at hand. Be compassionate to what they are going through. Don't attack with frustration and aggression. This could lead them deeper into the addiction. The support of friends and family are essential to the recovery of an oxycontin addict. Remember, an oxycontin addict is a person who needs compassion, love, and unconditional support.

Oxycontin Addiction  Mood, behaviour, physique and psychology change when a person is addicted to Oxycontin. Individuals may become irritable, anxious, depressed, euphoric, or swing between moods. He or she may begin to lie about use, steal to pay for drugs, or hide drugs around the house. Individuals often have interpersonal, work, and financial problems. They may appear drowsy and have track marks on their body. They may attempt to divert medication from family or friends, seek prescriptions through emergency rooms or multiple doctors, forge prescriptions or report losing prescriptions. Physically they may ?nod out,? itch, vomit, have constricted pupils or headaches and sweat excessively. Psychologically, hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia are possible symptoms.  Addiction to Oxycontin may cause a person to lose friends, family, and relationships. Those addicted to Oxycontin often experience divorce, job loss and homelessness. Some may commit abuse or become victims of abuse. Oxycontin addiction exposes a person to great physical danger as well. Oxycontin abuse may cause heart attacks, liver damage, seizures, coma, respiratory failure, and death.

Oxycontin Addiction  Oxycontin addiction is often developed when the user inappropriately administers the drug. It is possible to revert the drug back to a fast acting formula by crushing it and consuming it. This leaves the user more apt to overdoses and becoming mentally addicted to the slight euphoric effects. Opioids work by actually altering how the brain perceives pain. In this way, it is very mentally addictive because it can have a strong influence on the reward center of the user’s brain.  Oxycontin addiction was labelled as ?very rare? when the drug was advertised initially in 1996. This FDA approved label was made to be revised in 2001, but simply cited a lack of significant data to judge its addictive potential, despite the strong increase in overdoses across the country. In line with other Opioids, Oxycontin cause symptoms such as headaches, nausea, low blood pressure, heart failure, dizziness, and seizures. One of the lesser described effects is on the body’s endocrine system.

Oxycontin Addiction  Oxycontin addiction is possible because the pills can easily be crushed and consumed in a manner that is not prescribed by a doctor in order to achieve instant release of the active ingredients. Negative side effects include:  Respiratory depression  Pressure increases to cerebral and final fluid  Headaches  Nausea  Decreased blood pressure  Heart failure  Seizures  Dizziness  Overdose

Oxycontin: A Drug of Dependence  Oxycontin overdoses are dangerous and of course lead to death. The makeup of this drug and how it attaches to receptors in the brain make it easy to slip into a coma and possible loss of life. If someone in the family has an addiction there are outward signs one may notice. These signs include the following.  Dilated pupils (not reactive to light)  Periods of extreme sedation. Difficult to wake  Lack of responsiveness  Bluish appearance to lips and fingernails  Oxycontin addiction revolves around the dependence one begins to feel while using oxycontin. Once the drug is taken, a release of dopamine happens. Dopamine is the hormone which calms the reward system of the brain. Once the experience happens, one will want to continue taking this drug. The problem is that at some point in the addiction a person will become tolerant, therefore needing more of the drug to get the desired effects. This rollercoaster leads to a bigger addiction.

Fentanyl Addiction  The American Psychiatric Association provides 11 key indicators of addiction and uses the standard of two behaviors within 12 months as the trigger for addiction.  ?Recreational? type usage of fentanyl, where dosages and frequency of use increase over time  Continuous failure to stop or wean usage of fentanyl despite a desire to do so  Dedication to use of fentanyl occupies much of the individuals time  Persistent interest and or ache for using fentanyl  Erosion of the individual’s ability to maintain their work, home or school responsibilities  Prioritizing the use of fentanyl over fixing the life problems it has caused  Avoidance or removal from participation in routine work, school or social activities  Increased risk in use of fentanyl such as while driving a vehicle  Seeking increased use to fix the psychological problems that fentanyl initially caused  Tolerance building  Experiencing the symptoms of withdrawal when use stops or when dosage is smaller

Fentanyl Addiction  Fentanyl addiction, can be identified in an individual by discovering 2 of 11 symptoms within a 12-month span.  Emphasizing further drug use over fixing the problems it has caused  Participation in routine work, school or social activities dwindles or becomes non- existent  Adding greater risk to the drug use, such as driving while under the influence  Increasing use to mediate the psychological problems that fentanyl caused  Tolerance presence or increase  Symptoms of withdrawal when use stops or when dosage or strength is less  ?Recreational? usage of fentanyl, where dosages are unmonitored and frequency of use increases over time  Persistent failure to stop or decrease usage of fentanyl despite a desire to do so  Pursuit and usage of fentanyl occupies much of the individual’s time  Constant desire and or ache for using fentanyl  Destruction of individual’s ability to maintain their work, home or school obligations

What Is Fentanyl?  What Does Fentanyl Do to the Brain?  This drug affects the brain by inhibiting its pain and emotion receptors. Fentanyl, much like heroin, will increase the brain’s dopamine levels in the reward centers, leading to a state of euphoria. This state of euphoria is the high that users experience. Research has proven that the more dopamine is released, the faster the onset of addiction, so relatively speaking, the stronger the drug, the faster and stronger the craving.  Withdrawal symptoms include:  Tightness in the chest  Drastic mood changes  A rapidly increased heartbeat paired with slowed breathing  Hallucinations and general confusion  Seizures  Increased perspiration  Weakness  Constipation  Vomiting and nausea

Symptoms of Fentanyl Addiction  Fentanyl addiction can be identified by constant headaches, constipation, blurred vision, itching, seizures, nausea, hallucinations, confusion, unconsciousness, and other symptoms. After extended use, or after being combined with a street drug (such as heroin or even alcohol), effects can intensify respiratory distress, depression, insomnia, coma, or even death. The receptors in a person’s brain that process opioids is the same area of the brain that regulates breathing, which is a large reason to why a lot of fatalities and symptoms are all related to respiration. Fentanyl is a narcotic and has been classified as a controlled substance due to its extreme risk for addiction and abuse.

Fentanyl Addiction  Fentanyl addiction presents several different options for recovery from the drug. Because fentanyl is such a physical affecting drug, detox and withdrawal can cause some uncomfortable symptoms. Sometimes methadone, a pharmaceutical used to decrease cravings, is prescribed. There are also several rehabilitation programs and centers that specialize in fentanyl addiction recovery. After quitting fentanyl, it takes about 6-12 hours for the withdrawal to hit. This withdrawal then will peak at about 3 days after being clean of fentanyl. Because fentanyl is highly addictive, even after treatment, it can be very easy to want to relapse back into addiction. At home treatment for rehabilitation is not recommended because it is easier to slip back into relapse. By going to a rehabilitation center after treatment, they can work up a plan to help the patient stay sober and prevent a relapse back into fentanyl addiction.

The End For more details, please visit: https://canadianaddictionrehab.ca/our- program/morphine-addiction/

Recovering from Morphine Addiction