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(Examples of opioids: Morphine, Codeine, Heroin, Demerol, Percodan) The effects of opioids (the word is derived from "opium") are quite different from those of most other drugs of abuse. Because of their effectiveness against pain, opioids, morphine in particular, have legitimate medical uses. The administration of opioids usually leads to an elevated, tranquil, mood, with relief of pain if any is present. Injection of higher doses leads to the "rush" of good feeling that accounts for the desire for repeated doses and eventually to dependence. The rush has been described as very pleasant, orgiastic, and tranquil. Nevertheless, opioid dependence is rarely a direct consequence of legitimate use of morphine to relieve pain in hospital settings. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of repeated
use of opioids outside medical settings. Withdrawal causes depressed
mood, feelings of nausea (sometimes followed by vomiting), muscle
aches, diarrhea, and fever, among still other unpleasant
physiological consequences. There is a high death rate for addicts
via overdoses, use of unclean needles, resulting in HIV/AIDS,
hepatitis, toxic reactions, other ailments, and murder. Because
opioids are illegal, illegal behaviors performed in order to obtain and/or pay
for them are common. Clearly all of these factors tend to produce
"clinically significant" problems for the individual and
society. It is unusually difficult to treat opioid dependence;
methadone therapy is one promising but very controversial treatment
that can counter, at least temporarily, heroin or morphine
addiction. Last updated 12/19/03 |
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