Addiction is a gigantic international dilemma. Opiates became some of the well-known prohibited drugs nowadays. Opium-derived compounds are vastly available and greatly circulated both nationwide and worldwide. Before discussing opiate addiction, its qualities, and its treatment methodologies, it is essential to learn more about the opium-based substance first.
Essentially, an opiate is a substance that is obtained from the opium plant. The most popular kinds of opiates include thebaine, papaverine, heroin, morphine, and codeine. Amusingly, two of the major types of opiates, morphine and heroine, have identical chemical structures. Because of this feature, heroin can be detected through urine screening when morphine is being administered to the human system. According to medical science, heroin has the possibility to be a central nervous system tranquilizer and it has the ability to enter the human brain faster as compared to morphine. Actually, both substances are used as analgesics and narcotics that provide rest.
(1) Morphine: Morphine is the most common and the most obtainable opium-derived substance in the world today. Morphine is a kind of amino acid derivatives. Morphine is very important in medical science due to the fact that it is used for the treatment of disorders like pulmonary edema. An overabundance of morphine can generate plenty of problems to the physical being of the drug dependent person. The disorders caused by an oversupply morphine include respiratory depression, pulmonary edema, heart failure, respiratory failure, coma, or even death.
(2) Codeine: Codeine is a bit related to morphine, in terms of content. Codeine is also used as a medication for tusis, pain, diarrhea, and bowel syndrome. An overabundance can create many problems such as itching, nausea, euphoria, drowsiness, miosis, vomiting, dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation, hypotension, and respiratory complications.
(3) Papaverine and Thebaine: The structure of thebaine is a bit akin to structural make-up of codeine and morphine. Thebaine is also known as paramorphine. This type of substance is not applied alone. Some of the substances that are used with thebaine include nalbuphine, naloxone, oxymorphone, oxycodone, etorphine, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. An overabundance of thebaine is absolutely comparable to the effects of codeine and morphine.
(4) Heroin: Heroin is referred to as a semi-synthetic tranquilizer. Due to the fact that the demand for this opium-derived drug is really eminent, heroin enterprise is considered to be one of the fastest rising illegal industries. The most common means of misusing heroin is the administration of the drug to the human body with the use of an injection. Heroin is also known by the trade name Diamorphine. An addiction to heroin may result to acquired immune deficiency syndrome and other venereal diseases. An overabundance of heroin may bring about acute difficulties like frequent constipation, kidney failure, respiratory depression, profound unconsciousness, as well as death.
The only source of opium-based compounds is the poppy plant. The quality of opium-based compounds depends on the amount of moisture in the poppy plant.
The liquid kind of opium-based compounds is known as methadone, a medication that is utilized in the elimination of toxic substances from the body of people with addiction issues. An overabundance of methadone may possibly lead to addiction.
Opiates possess several helpful effects on the human body when prescribed by doctors as painkillers. When overabundance, opium-based compounds may bring about several severe complications. Addiction to opium-derived drugs may progress to physical and psychiatric dependence. Muscle pull is a normal side-effect that resulted from the recurring use of opium-based compounds. Lung complications are considered to be some of the effects of opiate drugs. Other effects of opiate addiction include hypotension, cracked lips, skin rashes, and constipation. Opiate addiction may harm the nervous system and it may initiate lethargy and coma. In the end, a repeated intake of opium-based compounds can cause the fatality of the person who has drug addiction problems.
The treatment processes for opiate addiction may be performed in a non-residential or a residential basis. The full treatment procedure in both situations is classified into two stages: the detox and the advising. The Detoxification process includes the elimination of toxins from the drug dependent person’s body. In advising, the person who has drug addiction problems is motivated to continue a better life.
While the drug-addicted person is going through the different treatment procedures, support from his relatives, his peers, and the community are extremely necessary.
About the Author:
Berlin Flores is a substance abuse and rehabilitation essayist who specializes in opiate addiction subjects. Visit the opiate addiction webpage http://www.drugrehabprogram.net for additional details in reference to opiate addiction.
Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:56:31 - 100%
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