Recovering from Morphine Addiction

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Recovering from Morphine Addiction
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Synopsis

• Everything to Know About the Morphine Addiction
  Crisis
• Morphine Addiction
• The Path of Morphine Addiction
• Morphine Addiction - The historical beginnings
  and problem of today
• Morphine The Classic Drug
• Oxycontin Addiction Families
• Oxycontin Addiction
• Oxycontin Addiction
• Oxycontin Addiction
• Oxycontin A Drug of Dependence
• Fentanyl Addiction
• Fentanyl Addiction
• What Is Fentanyl?
• Symptoms of Fentanyl Addiction
• Fentanyl Addiction

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Everything to Know About the Morphine Addiction
Crisis

• Morphine addiction also arose from the treatment
  of soldiers during the Civil War. Its euphoric
  effects were utilized in aiding soldiers from
  both sides who faced horrific wounds. Later, it
  was discovered after the dust from the war
  settled that these veteran soldiers were now
  reliant on morphine.
• Withdrawal symptoms include
• Cramps and nausea
• Drainage from eyes or nose
• Dizziness and light-headedness
• Agitation
• Vomiting
• Failure to concentrate
• Depression and anxiety
• Decrease in appetite

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Morphine Addiction

• A person becomes addicted to a drug, substance or
  behaviour when the activity or use becomes an
  irresistible and compulsive urge. Addiction is
  characterized by the addicts loss of control
  over his or her usage. Addicts often take several
  drugs at once including alcohol which increases
  the odds of addiction.
• The use of morphine produces several recognizable
  side effects confusion, dizziness, itchy skin,
  constricted pupils, and extreme drowsiness. Once
  a person begins to abuse morphine his or her
  health begins to decline. The person may
  alternate between sleep and alertness, get sick
  often from a weakened immune system, hallucinate
  and may contract blood-born diseases. Outwardly
  the addict may fake injuries to obtain morphine,
  exhibit poor personal hygiene, appear distracted
  and unable to concentrate, have needle marks,
  steal, have new friends and withdrawal from
  former friends and family.
• Prolonged use of morphine creates physical
  changes. When an addict stops using, he or she
  may experience several withdrawal symptoms. Many
  addicts in withdrawal have diarrhea, vomiting,
  stomach cramps, anxiety, rapid heartbeat and
  breathing, insomnia, chills, loss of appetite,
  joint or muscle pain, sweating, runny nose, and
  weakness. Avoiding these symptoms reinforces the
  addicts desire to continue abusing morphine.

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The Path of Morphine Addiction

• Morphine addiction can be treated, although due
  to the extremely addictive nature of the drug and
  the high tolerance users have, detoxing can be
  extremely hard, often causing relapses if a
  strong support network isnt ready to keep the
  user on track. Symptoms of withdrawal are similar
  to the symptoms of morphine use, such as fast
  breathing, insomnia, weakness, pain, sweating,
  and chills.
• Many support clinics exist to help deal with
  morphine addiction, and medical detox in a
  controlled environment is considered one of the
  best ways to deal with the addiction because of
  the strong support and accountability patients
  are given to ensure they stick with the process
  and dont give up detoxing and relapse. The
  programs also target the damaged relationships
  and mental health troubles that have been caused
  by morphine addiction, and although these
  processes take longer they can help return a
  morphine user back to some semblance of a normal
  life by helping them avoid relapse triggers and
  restoring broken trust. Other aspects of certain
  programs include time in meditation, saunas, and
  sticking to a strict diet in order to let the
  body flush out the morphine on its own.

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Morphine Addiction - The historical beginnings
and problem of today

• Morphine was discovered in 1804 by a German
  scientist. This scientist separated this drug
  from opium. It is true that morphine is derived
  from the poppy plant. This drug became widely
  popular during the civil war. Morphine was used
  for wounded soldiers and the aftermath of that
  was a huge addiction problem with over 40,000
  soldiers.
• Morphine works on the central nervous system and
  can be taken several different ways. It can be
  taken by pill, syrup, liquid, or suppository. It
  is a scheduled two controlled narcotic but can be
  prescribed by a physician. Morphine is used as a
  painkiller. Commonly used after surgery or to
  help chronic pain issues. Unfortunately, it now
  has become the most addictive drug with a high
  rate of relapse after rehabilitation.
• Morphine has become such a problem of today
  because worldwide there is about 40 million
  people who are addicted to morphine. In the
  United States it has accounted for over 20,000
  deaths. Once morphine is taken, a persons
  breathing is slowed. This becomes serious in an
  overdose because it can stop the lung function.

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Morphine The Classic Drug

• Morphine is a drug that has a good use. People
  that use this drug for the right reasons can
  experience a relief and become able to function
  in daily life. When an addiction begins in a
  loved one there are signs one can see. These
  signs include the following.
• Shallow breathing
• Faint or dizziness
• Confusion
• Low blood pressure
• Constricted pupils
• Cold or clammy skin
• Circulatory collapse
• Cardiac Arrest
• Coma

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Oxycontin Addiction Families

• Oxycontin addicts get so caught up in the high
  they may not see what this addiction can do to
  their families. There are a lot of unfortunate
  effects which happen to families. The loss of
  relationships is number one. This loss can lead
  to divorces, loss of children, and extended
  families having to turn away from them. The
  families of addicts can be torn apart. A member
  of a family may become violent, lie, and steal in
  order to get their drug of choice. This can then
  lead to a person becoming homeless.
• The families of oxycontin addicts can help their
  loved one to overcome. When approaching that
  loved one, make sure the research has been done.
  Make sure all the knowledge needed is at hand.
  Be compassionate to what they are going through.
  Don't attack with frustration and aggression.
  This could lead them deeper into the addiction.
  The support of friends and family are essential
  to the recovery of an oxycontin addict. Remember,
  an oxycontin addict is a person who needs
  compassion, love, and unconditional support.

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Oxycontin Addiction

• Mood, behaviour, physique and psychology change
  when a person is addicted to Oxycontin.
  Individuals may become irritable, anxious,
  depressed, euphoric, or swing between moods. He
  or she may begin to lie about use, steal to pay
  for drugs, or hide drugs around the house.
  Individuals often have interpersonal, work, and
  financial problems. They may appear drowsy and
  have track marks on their body. They may attempt
  to divert medication from family or friends, seek
  prescriptions through emergency rooms or multiple
  doctors, forge prescriptions or report losing
  prescriptions. Physically they may nod out,
  itch, vomit, have constricted pupils or headaches
  and sweat excessively. Psychologically,
  hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia are
  possible symptoms.
• Addiction to Oxycontin may cause a person to lose
  friends, family, and relationships. Those
  addicted to Oxycontin often experience divorce,
  job loss and homelessness. Some may commit abuse
  or become victims of abuse. Oxycontin addiction
  exposes a person to great physical danger as
  well. Oxycontin abuse may cause heart attacks,
  liver damage, seizures, coma, respiratory
  failure, and death.

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Oxycontin Addiction

• Oxycontin addiction is often developed when the
  user inappropriately administers the drug. It is
  possible to revert the drug back to a fast acting
  formula by crushing it and consuming it. This
  leaves the user more apt to overdoses and
  becoming mentally addicted to the slight euphoric
  effects. Opioids work by actually altering how
  the brain perceives pain. In this way, it is very
  mentally addictive because it can have a strong
  influence on the reward center of the users
  brain.
• Oxycontin addiction was labelled as very rare
  when the drug was advertised initially in 1996.
  This FDA approved label was made to be revised in
  2001, but simply cited a lack of significant data
  to judge its addictive potential, despite the
  strong increase in overdoses across the country.
  In line with other Opioids, Oxycontin cause
  symptoms such as headaches, nausea, low blood
  pressure, heart failure, dizziness, and seizures.
  One of the lesser described effects is on the
  bodys endocrine system.

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Oxycontin Addiction

• Oxycontin addiction is possible because the pills
  can easily be crushed and consumed in a manner
  that is not prescribed by a doctor in order to
  achieve instant release of the active
  ingredients. Negative side effects include
• Respiratory depression
• Pressure increases to cerebral and final fluid
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Decreased blood pressure
• Heart failure
• Seizures
• Dizziness
• Overdose

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Oxycontin A Drug of Dependence

• Oxycontin overdoses are dangerous and of course
  lead to death. The makeup of this drug and how
  it attaches to receptors in the brain make it
  easy to slip into a coma and possible loss of
  life. If someone in the family has an addiction
  there are outward signs one may notice. These
  signs include the following.
• Dilated pupils (not reactive to light)
• Periods of extreme sedation. Difficult to wake
• Lack of responsiveness
• Bluish appearance to lips and fingernails
• Oxycontin addiction revolves around the
  dependence one begins to feel while using
  oxycontin. Once the drug is taken, a release of
  dopamine happens. Dopamine is the hormone which
  calms the reward system of the brain. Once the
  experience happens, one will want to continue
  taking this drug. The problem is that at some
  point in the addiction a person will become
  tolerant, therefore needing more of the drug to
  get the desired effects. This rollercoaster leads
  to a bigger addiction.

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Fentanyl Addiction

• The American Psychiatric Association provides 11
  key indicators of addiction and uses the standard
  of two behaviors within 12 months as the trigger
  for addiction.
• Recreational type usage of fentanyl, where
  dosages and frequency of use increase over time
• Continuous failure to stop or wean usage of
  fentanyl despite a desire to do so
• Dedication to use of fentanyl occupies much of
  the individuals time
• Persistent interest and or ache for using
  fentanyl
• Erosion of the individuals ability to maintain
  their work, home or school responsibilities
• Prioritizing the use of fentanyl over fixing the
  life problems it has caused
• Avoidance or removal from participation in
  routine work, school or social activities
• Increased risk in use of fentanyl such as while
  driving a vehicle
• Seeking increased use to fix the psychological
  problems that fentanyl initially caused
• Tolerance building
• Experiencing the symptoms of withdrawal when use
  stops or when dosage is smaller

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Fentanyl Addiction

• Fentanyl addiction, can be identified in an
  individual by discovering 2 of 11 symptoms within
  a 12-month span.
• Emphasizing further drug use over fixing the
  problems it has caused
• Participation in routine work, school or social
  activities dwindles or becomes non-existent
• Adding greater risk to the drug use, such as
  driving while under the influence
• Increasing use to mediate the psychological
  problems that fentanyl caused
• Tolerance presence or increase
• Symptoms of withdrawal when use stops or when
  dosage or strength is less
• Recreational usage of fentanyl, where dosages
  are unmonitored and frequency of use increases
  over time
• Persistent failure to stop or decrease usage of
  fentanyl despite a desire to do so
• Pursuit and usage of fentanyl occupies much of
  the individuals time
• Constant desire and or ache for using fentanyl
• Destruction of individuals ability to maintain
  their work, home or school obligations

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What Is Fentanyl?

• What Does Fentanyl Do to the Brain?
• This drug affects the brain by inhibiting its
  pain and emotion receptors. Fentanyl, much like
  heroin, will increase the brains dopamine levels
  in the reward centers, leading to a state of
  euphoria. This state of euphoria is the high
  that users experience. Research has proven that
  the more dopamine is released, the faster the
  onset of addiction, so relatively speaking, the
  stronger the drug, the faster and stronger the
  craving.
• Withdrawal symptoms include
• Tightness in the chest
• Drastic mood changes
• A rapidly increased heartbeat paired with slowed
  breathing
• Hallucinations and general confusion
• Seizures
• Increased perspiration
• Weakness
• Constipation
• Vomiting and nausea

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Symptoms of Fentanyl Addiction

• Fentanyl addiction can be identified by constant
  headaches, constipation, blurred vision, itching,
  seizures, nausea, hallucinations, confusion,
  unconsciousness, and other symptoms. After
  extended use, or after being combined with a
  street drug (such as heroin or even alcohol),
  effects can intensify respiratory distress,
  depression, insomnia, coma, or even death. The
  receptors in a persons brain that process
  opioids is the same area of the brain that
  regulates breathing, which is a large reason to
  why a lot of fatalities and symptoms are all
  related to respiration. Fentanyl is a narcotic
  and has been classified as a controlled substance
  due to its extreme risk for addiction and abuse.

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Fentanyl Addiction

• Fentanyl addiction presents several different
  options for recovery from the drug. Because
  fentanyl is such a physical affecting drug, detox
  and withdrawal can cause some uncomfortable
  symptoms. Sometimes methadone, a pharmaceutical
  used to decrease cravings, is prescribed. There
  are also several rehabilitation programs and
  centers that specialize in fentanyl addiction
  recovery. After quitting fentanyl, it takes about
  6-12 hours for the withdrawal to hit. This
  withdrawal then will peak at about 3 days after
  being clean of fentanyl. Because fentanyl is
  highly addictive, even after treatment, it can be
  very easy to want to relapse back into addiction.
  At home treatment for rehabilitation is not
  recommended because it is easier to slip back
  into relapse. By going to a rehabilitation center
  after treatment, they can work up a plan to help
  the patient stay sober and prevent a relapse back
  into fentanyl addiction.

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The End

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• https//canadianaddictionrehab.ca/our-program/morp
  hine-addiction/