Opiates refer to a group of drugs that are used for the treatment of pain. They are derived from the poppy plant. They are known by many other different names including narcotics and opioids. Addiction and use of opiates has a long history that is only surpassed by that of alcohol. Governments, pharmacological science, and psychiatry have been trying to find an effective cure with mixed success. Finding an effective opiate addiction treatment continues to be a concern in the United States and the world over.
Most addicts of opiates are in the US, significant numbers are in Asia, Australia and Europe too. New drugs and options for treatment are developed while extant ones are refined to achieve optimal performance. Challenges are presented in most treatment options, which makes them not suitable for application across all patient types.
Opiates are usually derived from the poppy seed but can also be synthesized artificially in the laboratory. The poppy seed contains substantial amounts of codeine and morphine among other drugs. The synthetic versions of the drugs include heroin, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. Other synthetic opioids that have a different structure but produce similar effects on the body include meperidine, methadone, and propoxyphene. Most of these drugs are used by medical practitioners for the treatment of pain.
The effects of opiates are very specific and may depend on the quantity that one takes. The substances target neurotransmitters in the body through their action on nerve receptors. They mostly affect enkephalins and endorphins neurotransmitters. The eventual effect of the drugs is to suppress anxiety and pain. Consumption of the drugs in very big quantities causes euphoria.
The consumption of opiates is done in many different ways. Most of them can be taken through the mouth, smoked, or can be snorted. However, some people prefer intravenous injection because it produces the effects fast and almost immediately. The effects are also strongest and last longer when the drugs are taken through intravenous injections. No serious side effects are associated with opiates besides breath depression and constipation in some cases.
The safety and health of addicts is usually not prioritized by them much. Normal physical warnings such as pain which the body gives are ignored and neglected by addicts. Infectious diseases such as HIV are transmitted a lot among users through intravenous needles. Breath arrest and death may also result in cases where one uses more substance than their body can handle.
Treatment of addiction is not an easy process and addicts are always at risk of falling back into the habit. There is no single method or drug that has been determined to be totally effective as a treatment. Detoxification is one of the main methods used and it involves cutting down on the dose consumed. This method is difficult to cope with because the withdrawal reaction usually lasts longer than the effects produced by most drugs.
Withdrawal symptoms experienced are dependent on the type of drug consumed. Cold and hot flashes, diarrhea, tremors, vomiting, muscle aches, and nausea are among major withdrawal effects people experience. These effects are not a threat to life, but are extremely uncomfortable to live with.
Most addicts of opiates are in the US, significant numbers are in Asia, Australia and Europe too. New drugs and options for treatment are developed while extant ones are refined to achieve optimal performance. Challenges are presented in most treatment options, which makes them not suitable for application across all patient types.
Opiates are usually derived from the poppy seed but can also be synthesized artificially in the laboratory. The poppy seed contains substantial amounts of codeine and morphine among other drugs. The synthetic versions of the drugs include heroin, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. Other synthetic opioids that have a different structure but produce similar effects on the body include meperidine, methadone, and propoxyphene. Most of these drugs are used by medical practitioners for the treatment of pain.
The effects of opiates are very specific and may depend on the quantity that one takes. The substances target neurotransmitters in the body through their action on nerve receptors. They mostly affect enkephalins and endorphins neurotransmitters. The eventual effect of the drugs is to suppress anxiety and pain. Consumption of the drugs in very big quantities causes euphoria.
The consumption of opiates is done in many different ways. Most of them can be taken through the mouth, smoked, or can be snorted. However, some people prefer intravenous injection because it produces the effects fast and almost immediately. The effects are also strongest and last longer when the drugs are taken through intravenous injections. No serious side effects are associated with opiates besides breath depression and constipation in some cases.
The safety and health of addicts is usually not prioritized by them much. Normal physical warnings such as pain which the body gives are ignored and neglected by addicts. Infectious diseases such as HIV are transmitted a lot among users through intravenous needles. Breath arrest and death may also result in cases where one uses more substance than their body can handle.
Treatment of addiction is not an easy process and addicts are always at risk of falling back into the habit. There is no single method or drug that has been determined to be totally effective as a treatment. Detoxification is one of the main methods used and it involves cutting down on the dose consumed. This method is difficult to cope with because the withdrawal reaction usually lasts longer than the effects produced by most drugs.
Withdrawal symptoms experienced are dependent on the type of drug consumed. Cold and hot flashes, diarrhea, tremors, vomiting, muscle aches, and nausea are among major withdrawal effects people experience. These effects are not a threat to life, but are extremely uncomfortable to live with.
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