Morphine Use: Cure for Pain or Recipe for Disaster?
What is Morphine?
Morphine is the most highly populated opiate found in the opium plant. It is the highest standard of all opiates, which makes it the most dangerous. Morphine use is apparent in the medical industry to relieve chronic pain but is widely seen among recreational users as well. Morphine is also one of the most addictive substances and causes dependency which makes it difficult to quit.
Medical Effects and Uses of Morphine
Morphine is generally found in hospitals to relieve pain in patients that absolutely need it. Outside these uses, it becomes a dangerous slippery slope of addiction. Medical uses of morphine include:
- Post surgery pain reduction.
- Relieve chronic pain in patients with terminal cancer.
- Pain relief from extensive trauma and/or cranial injury.
- Used as a cough suppressant in severe cases.
Recreational Morphine Use
Morphine is known to be a drug that is directly injected into the bloodstream. Although still is the case, it is also available to be taken orally in pill form, in a drinkable form, and in the form of a suppository. Most addiction to morphine comes when an addict self-medicates. Prolonged and frequent use causes an addict to form a tolerance to the drug. Once tolerance is formed, the morphine addict needs more of the drug to produce the desired effect. Once addiction ensues, abstinence from the drug evokes withdrawal symptoms. Because the withdrawal period is so painful and aggravating, morphine dependence is a primary reason why many morphine addicts do not seek sobriety.
Street Names for Morphine:
Keeping an Eye Out for Morphine Use
If you think that a loved one is abusing morphine, there are a few signs to look for. Keep an eye out for pill bottles, needles, and syringes. Remember that even if someone has a prescription to morphine, it is possible for them to abuse the drug. A dosage that is higher than a doctor’s instructions or continued unnecessary usage is considered abuse. Signs that a person is abusing morphine are:
- Dizziness or fainting
- Constant constipation
- Lowering of blood pressure
- Small pupils
- Faint breathing
- Cold sweats
- Heart attack
Withdrawal Symptoms of Morphine
Withdrawal is when a person dependant on a drug stops using. For morphine users, this withdrawal process comes with painful side effects. Withdrawal is necessary to detox, which involves elimination of a drug from the body. Addicts who depend on morphine use will show withdrawal symptoms when they haven’t used for a period of time. These symptoms include:
- Increased heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Stomach pain
- Back pain
- Muscle pain
Dangers of Morphine Use and Pregnancy
A baby will be born addicted when a mother abuses Morphine during pregnancy. With a drug dependency, the baby will experience withdrawal symptoms when the drug is not administered to them. A baby going through morphine withdrawal will experience:
- High fever
- High activity
- Low birth weight
- Trouble gaining weight
- Breathing trouble
- Non-stop crying from pain
Long-Term Morphine Use
The long-term use of morphine causes bodily harm that is often irreversible. Long-term side effects of morphine use include:
- Memory lapses
- Collapsed circulatory system
- Sleep apnea
- Urination issues
- Loss of sex drive
Dealing with a Morphine Addict
A morphine addict can rapidly change into a different person than loved ones remember. Cravings of morphine are so intense that it causes morphine addicts to do things that they wouldn’t normally do if they were sober. Loss of original personality can also make family pull away from morphine users and cause extreme harm to every relationship in an addict’s life. As a result, addicts have to decide to seek treatment themselves for their own lives. It is possible to encourage a loved one to seek treatment, but it is never guaranteed to work. Unfortunately, addicts seek treatment usually after hitting rock bottom. It is best to let an addict receive consequences for their own actions so that they come to terms with their problem on their own.
Seeking Morphine Addiction Treatment
The Florida House Experience offers many different treatment options for morphine addicts seeking a life of sobriety. Firstly, our goal is to provide each individual at our facility with a well-rounded treatment plan. Our treatment options offered include medical detox, residency programs, outpatient programs, sober skills development, cognitive therapy, and sober living aftercare programs. If you have any questions about morphine addiction or our treatment programs and facility, do not hesitate to contact us. Morphine addiction is a serious health hazard and is cause for death in many cases. Seeking addiction treatment is vital to retain happiness in an addict’s life. Call us today at 855-441-2449 or visit our website.