...Opiate Dependency vs. Opiate Addiction Today the recent growth of prescription opioid painkillers has made opiate use far more domesticated and widespread than ever before. Even though heroin use has declined, the use of prescription opiates has increased. Over the last two decades, there has been a steady increase in the total number of opioid prescriptions. From 1991 to 2010 the number of opioid prescriptions increased sixfold, from 30 million to 180 million prescriptions. The use of prescription opiates for people who are dependent on the drugs for pain reduction has lead to an increase in abuse. When a family member or friend begins taking the drugs, not because they need them, but because they want the feeling, it becomes an addiction. Even though an addict is dependent on opiates, a person who is opiate-dependent is different because of the psychological, physical, and financial effects. An addict has very different psychological behaviors, than a person who is dependent. Addiction is in part linked to a person’s genetic makeup. That is, one’s genetic makeup may regulate how susceptible a person is to a substance and how easily one may become psychologically attached. An individual with an addiction to opiates acts differently because they are in constant search of opiates. This tends to lead them to act before thinking and do irrational things. The behavior is that of a person who is desperate and willing to do anything for the opiates. On the other hand an opiate-dependent...
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...Opiate Dependency vs. Opiate Addiction Today the recent growth of prescription opioid painkillers has made opiate use far more domesticated and widespread than ever before. Even though heroin use has declined, the use of prescription opiates has increased. The use of prescription opiates for people who are dependent on the drugs for pain reduction has lead to an increase in abuse. When a family member or friend begins taking the drugs, not because they need them, but because they want to feeling, it becomes an addiction. Even though an addict is dependent on opiates, a person who is opiate-dependent is different because of the psychological, physical, and financial effects. An addict has very different psychological behaviors, than a person who is dependent. An individual with an addiction to opiates acts differently because they are in constant search of opiates. This tends to lead them to act before thinking and do irrational things. The behavior is that of a person who is desperate and willing to do anything for the opiates. On the other hand an opiate-dependent person who takes the drug as prescribed; as a result there are no desperate behaviors. Being dependent on the opiates and not abusing them makes it so this person can still behave in a normal way, as they did before. The psychological feeling of an addict is very different than that of a person who is dependent. For example an addict is most likely searching for a psychological change or high, where as a dependent...
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...Long Term Effects of Opiates Opioids are very helpful in pain management, but if used incorrectly negative side effects can occur. This paper explains what opiates are and how they work, examines why they are used, and presents the side effects of long term usage so we can better understand the risks associated with using them. What Opiates Are and How They Work Opiates are derived from opium, a reddish-brown, heavy-scented, addictive drug prepared from the juice of the opium poppy. While some opioid drugs are manmade, natural opiates come directly from the plant and milk of its seed pods. (Oxford, 2018.) Opiates are psychoactive drugs that cause reduced sensitivity to pain, pleasurable feelings of relaxation and euphoria, and an enormous dopamine...
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...What are opiates, also known as narcotics? They’re derived from opium, which comes from the poppy plant. Common names of illicit and licit drugs that millions of people use every day are heroin, morphine, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), fentanyl (Duragesic), codeine, oxycodone (Oxycontin and Percocet), and hydrocodone (Vicodin and Hycodan). These drugs are known to have serious side effects and withdrawal symptoms on the human body and brain. “More than half a million people in the United States are addicted to heroin, with an estimated 156,000 new users in 2012” (Davison & Neale, 297). Opiates can be smoked, taken orally, and by injection. There used to be speculations that only men where using opiates, but now are women too. Opiates, “Relieve...
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...What Is An Opiate Addiction? A drug addiction is a chronic brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking despite the consequences of it. People who have an opiate addiction may go to great lengths to obtain the drug, such as doctor shopping. Opiates are prescribed to alleviate pain. Most people use opiates as prescribed. However, opiate abuse is on the rise. It is estimated that anywhere from 24 million to 36 million people in the world abuse opiates. Long-term opiate abuse can result in dependency. The reason that people who abuse opiates often become addicts is because they often develop a tolerance. Once a tolerance develops, people need more of the drug in order to experience the same effects. Opiate Withdrawal Treatment...
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...if someone is abusing opiates. This includes heroin, also known as diacetyl morphine or diamorphine. Its abuse is more widespread than any other opiates. In this paper, opiates and heroin will be deeply discussed and their major effect on society. What does it mean to be drugged? It means losing your health. It means losing the ability to learn. It means losing your family and friends. It means losing free will. It means losing the joy of living. When a person does drugs, it is likely that they will lose more than what they gain by the drug s effects. People only one desire in life- to get high. The attitude is now, What the hell do I care? Being drugged also means that there is the constant possibility of infection, disease, and even death. But that doesn t matter because an addict only wants their fix. So what makes drugs so appealing to young people? Well might do it because it s something to help their social status- to be like their friends. They might be trying to numb the physical or mental suffering of life. Drugs offer a solution to many teenagers that think they don t have future. Lastly, doing drugs is dangerous and forbidden. It s a chance for them to do something that they know is wrong. Opiates are a group of drugs, which are used medically to relieve pain, but also have a high potential for abuse. They tend to relax the user, which would make sense of the fact that once in the body, it will bring on a feeling of euphoria. Opiates are derived from papaver...
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...Anatomy of a Neuron Anatomy of a Neuron References: * Kalat, J. W. (). Biological Psychology (11th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection Database. * Science Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/WhoAmI/FindOutMore/Yourbrain/Howdoesyourbrainwork/Howdoesyournervoussystemwork/Whatarenerveimpulses.aspx * Understanding the Transmission of Nerve Impulses. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/understanding-the-transmission-of-nerve-impulses.html References: * Kalat, J. W. (). Biological Psychology (11th ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBook Collection Database. * Science Museum. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/WhoAmI/FindOutMore/Yourbrain/Howdoesyourbrainwork/Howdoesyournervoussystemwork/Whatarenerveimpulses.aspx * Understanding the Transmission of Nerve Impulses. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/understanding-the-transmission-of-nerve-impulses.html Cell Body: is also known as soma has the ribosomes, nucleus, and mitochondria within it. The cell body has synapses on the surface. Dendrites: Are fibers that are narrow at the ends. The dendrites have synaptic receptors that receive information from other neurons. Axon: An axon is a thin fiber and is usually longer than a dendrite. This is the conducting fiber, and where the information from the dendrites is formed. The myelin sheath is also located on the axons...
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...In small doses, barbiturates will relax a person and allow them to sleep. Many sleeping pills can be considered barbiturates, like Nembutal, Seconal, Amytal. When mixed with alcohol, barbiturates can be deadly because of how they both slow down essential body functions. In high doses, barbiturates can affect the memory and the judgment. Barbiturates are also used in high doses for assisted suicides. Opiates Opiates also slow down neural functioning. Opiate use causes the pupils to constrict, the breathing to slow, and the body to become lethargic. Many people use opiates to reduce their feelings of pain and anxiety. Morphine, a pain-relieving medication used in hospitals, is an opiate that is used in regulated doses. Once someone becomes addicted to opiates they will crave larger doses, growing a tolerance. Withdrawal symptoms are usually extremely painful, driving the addicted to take more and more opiates. Since opiates are producing these feelings that the brain usually produces, the brain stops producing endorphins. This is dangerous because if someone tries to quit opiates their brain will not be able to produce the feelings that they crave. This can lead to overdose, which can end in accidental suicide. ...
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...Running head: METHADONE AND DEPENDENCY The Effects of Methadone Treatment on Opiate and Heroin Dependency Since the early times, opiates, heroin, and other drugs have been used in providing analgesia as well as substitutes to reach a place of euphoria. Originally, as Yurgelum-Todd et al (2009) has noted, derived from the opium poppy, heroin has been used as an alternative to morphine in dealing with addiction (Yurgelum-Todd, p. 175, 2009). Unfortunately, over the years it has consistently become prevalent that heroin has more negative aspects than anything; heroin is highly addictive, resulting in consequences such as overdoses, infections, violence and crime, deficits in memory, learning, and attention. The need to relieve pain by use of heroin and other drugs, though, results in opioid dependence, estimated to affect more than one million persons in North America alone (Oviedo-Joekes, p. 778, 2009). To relieve opiate dependence, researchers experimented with an opiate-agonist called methadone; the standard opioid-susbstitution treatment, to help reduce withdrawals and other negative consequences surrounding the use of drugs like heroin by producing a phenomenon called the “blocking-dose”, which blocks opiate receptors (Oviedo-Joekes, p. 778, 2009). Methadone was, in fact, the “first opiate agonist used in the pharmacotherapy of heroin addiction. Methadone is the best studied drug, but also the most controversial”(Maremmani, p. 7, 2008)....
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...workers on how to assist in an effective manner with this population. Findings were positive. Workers admitted to having known little about the cultural background of Latino clients. However after educating child welfare workers culturally, this allowed for worker to better understand the Latino population, as well as how to implement a treatment that will be effective for this population. (Lundgren, Schilling, & Peloquin, 2005) Authors here are evaluating the use MM as an effective treatment with parent(s) who are abusing drugs. Author’s position in this case shows many child welfare workers are dealing with children who parent(s) have abused drugs, specifically opiates such as heroin. Specific studies found that substance abuse contributed largely in child malpractice. However, after evaluation the use of opiates within child welfare a reasonable approach is acknowledged. This approach is...
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...Narcotics: Narcotics decrease the sensitivity to the sensory stimuli because it has a depressant effect on the central nervous system. Opium, morphine, codeine, heroin, meperidine, and methadone are types of narcotics. Natural and synthetic opiates are considered medically valuable because they are effective pain relievers. A reduction of physical activity and drowsiness are the effects of opiates. Once consuming opiate you might feel such uncomfortable feelings as nausea, vomiting and itching. Too much use of opiate leads to dependency, both physical and psychological. Sedatives: Sedatives have a depressant effect on the central nervous system and is used to treat epilepsy, high blood pressure, mental disorders and insomnia. Overdoses can easily come by and fatal withdrawal can also follow. Emotions become unpredictable, slurred speech becomes apparent. Sedatives are another example of fatal withdrawal and dependency. Withdrawal can cause a convulsion because it was related with it. Alcohol: Ethyl alcohol is the most widely used drug and is labeled as a depressant of the central nervous system. The reason why it is so known and its effects are also well known is because drinking alcohol is socially acceptable. Such effects are mild euphoria and a decrease of inhibitions. Alcohol can also cause a depressed feeling, decreased activity and/or sleep. The control centers in the brain become depressed and drunkenness occurs once the depressed brainstem ...
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...their thought processes, behaviors, etc. and changing their entire lives. In this sense Suboxone is not considered a 'drug' in the conventional terms of use, but rather is medicine for the patient. Suboxone is far, far better than taking Methadone, which is full agonist opioid, allowing a person to consume higher doses and feel higher levels of euphoria. Methadone has been nicknamed "liquid handcuffs", because it is a substance that is just as strong as OxyContin and most other opioids on the market, if not higher. Individuals on methadone will consistently be seen "nodding off", something that does not occur in patients taking Suboxone. I can attest to this knowledge, because I personally am an opiate addict who was addicted to OxyContin, Opana, Fentanyl, heroin, and any other opiate for years. I would consider myself blessed and during my years of recovery I was able to utilize Suboxone to give me time to do intense therapy, soul-searching, and change my entire life...
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...Drugs: Amphetamines affects the neurotransmitter Dopamine. Amphetamines both cause Dopamine-producing neurons to let more Dopamine out than normal, and keep that Dopamine in the brain longer than it normally would. Cocaine blocks the re-uptake of the neurotransmitters Dopamine and Serotonin. Cannabinoids: Marijuana has complicated effects. It acts on the neurotransmitters Serotonin, Dopamine and Acetylcholine. Hallucinogens: LSD and Ecstasy stop Serotonin by blocking its release. Opiates, also called narcotics, come in many different forms. People can get prescriptions for drugs containing opiates, or they can purchase recreational drugs containing opiates. Narcotics also affect the function of the brain and body. They are very addictive, because of their ability to provide pain relief and their ability to cause the person taking them to experience intense feelings of happiness and euphoria. Opiates also dramatically affect the function of the brain and body. Individuals who take opiates regularly have a high risk of becoming addicted to them because they are very addictive and very strong. It does not take long for the brain to form a dependency to opium. Opium changes the way the nerves in a person's brain works. When a person uses opium continuously, he or she will eventually need to take it more often in order for the brain to function. In summary, it is very important to understand not only how many drugs are available but that every type of drug can affect a brain...
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...Prescribed Into Addiction Our family will always wonder if a holistic approach to his back pain could have saved my brother from being a statistic of the opiate overdose epidemic. My brother, Jeremy, was one of over 125,000 people who have lost their life since 2000, to the epidemic of opiate overdoses. There are dozens of safe alternative treatments for chronic back pain that do not involve taking medication or having an operation. We will struggle the rest of our lives wondering if tried holistic treatment if he would still be with us. Jeremy broke his back skateboarding, when he was in 11th grade, which was the first time doctors prescribed painkillers. At that time, we were unaware of how dangerous prescription painkillers can be and how easy it is to become addicted. An alternative could be physical therapy, chiropractic treatment or medical massage. These treatments can be just as effective. Jeremy was a dare-devil, who never was afraid of any physical challenges whether it was skateboarding, snowboarding or many other sports. These sports lead to a lot of injuries and more painkillers. He was a Union Carpenter, which is hard physical labor, and it added to his pain. His biggest motto was no matter what you do to work. No matter the pain that he was in, he would go to work. Physical therapist should teach exercises to make his back stronger, than he would suffer less and not become addicted to painkillers. By the time he was 25, he was in a lot of physical pain, especially...
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...HurtingHealing & Rough Draft Peggy Matthews COM/172 6/9/2014 Mrs. Clarke Healing & Hurting Rough Draft Marijuana and opiates help when there’s pain you cannot naturally fight. But when abused they both get you higher than a kite. Medical Marijuana and opiates are used for pain relief, but are widely used for substance abuse. What is Marijuana? Is it an illegal drug? Or is marijuana a medical breakthrough? The United States Government contradicts itself everyday with this issue. The United States Government allows all states to pass bills if they so choose to, allow medical marijuana to be used as treatment for patients with chronic pain and recreational use. The other states are absolutely against the legalization of medical marijuana, saying “it is immoral”. What is the history behind Marijuana? I am going to take you on a journey ten thousand years ago in ancient civilization. Marijuana also called Cannabis was used for fiber. The humans in this time period also used the hemp seed for food. It was only natural that they discovered the medical properties of the plant. Cannabis was actually used for a list of reasons such as hemorrhoids, insomnia, headaches, pain, and even childbirth. But that was some time ago. In the 1970’s scientist were able to extract the THC from the plant. Thus making a synthetic version of the plant, and calling it Marinol. Marinol was approved from the Government and the FDA to be prescribed to patients. It was used to treat anorexia...
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