Opiates
The term opiates refers to the alkaloids found in opium, an extract from the
seed pods of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.). It has also traditionally
referred to natural and semi-synthetic derivatives of morphine. The term is
often incorrectly used to refer to all drugs with opium-/morphine-like pharmacological
action, which are more properly classified under the broader term opioid. The
main opiates from opium are morphine, codeine and thebaine.
Opiates are used medicinally to relieve pain and induce sleep. These opiates
include codeine , morphine , the morphine derivative heroin , and, formerly,
laudanum. Sometimes included in the group are certain synthetic drugs that
have morphine-like pharmacological action. All opiates are considered controlled
substances by U.S. law and are available only by prescription. Heroin is not
available legally at all in the United States.
Abuse and Addiction to Opiates
The abuse of opiates is associated with serious health conditions, including
fatal overdose, spontaneous abortion, collapsed veins, and, particularly in
users who inject the drug, infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis.
It is very important to get the use of this drug stopped. One of the ways to
do that is to do regular urine drug testing of the person who is using opiates.
The short-term effects of Opiates appear soon after a single dose and disappear
in a few hours. After an injection of heroin, the user reports feeling a surge
of euphoria ("rush") accompanied by a warm flushing of the skin,
a dry mouth, and heavy extremities. Following this initial euphoria, the user
goes "on the nod," an alternately wakeful and drowsy state. Mental
functioning becomes clouded due to the depression of the central nervous system.
Long-term effects of heroin appear after repeated use for some period of time.
Addiction to Opiates affects the users central nervous system. After using
opiates for a prolonged period of time, the nerve cells in the brain, which
would otherwise produce endogenous opiates (natural painkillers, or endorphins),
cease to function normally. The body stops producing endorphins because it
is receiving opiates instead. The degeneration of these nerve cells causes
a physical dependency to an external supply of opiates. Abrupt or sudden abstinence
from opiates induces yet another traumatic problem, withdrawal from opiates.
Withdrawal from Opiates
Opiate withdrawal is caused by stopping, or dramatically reducing, the use
of opiates after heavy and prolonged use (several weeks or more).
Opiates include heroin, morphine, codeine, Oxycontin, Dilaudid, methadone,
and others. The reaction frequently includes sweating, shaking, headache, drug
craving, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, inability to sleep,
confusion, agitation, depression, anxiety, and other behavioral changes.
About 5% of the population is believed to misuse opiates, including illegal
drugs like heroin and prescribed pain medications such as Oxycontin. These drugs
can cause physical dependence. This means that there is a reliance on the drug
to prevent symptoms of withdrawal. Over time, greater amounts of
the drug become necessary to produce the same effect. The time it takes to become
physically dependent varies with each individual.
When the drugs are stopped, the body needs time to recover, and withdrawal
symptoms result. Withdrawal from opiates can occur whenever any chronic use
is discontinued or reduced. Some people even withdraw from opiates after hospitalization
for painful conditions without realizing what is happening to them. They think
they have the flu, and because they don't know that opiates would fix the problem,
they don't crave opiates.