OPIOIDS I. Where do they come from? / synthesized in 1803 poppy plant: from middle east and Asia dried sap from plant is opium; cultivated annually BUT plant produces drug within only 10 day window major active ingredient in opium: morphine / synthesized in 1803 / named after the Greek god of dreams Morpheus / morphine altered in late 1800s into heroin - a “heroic” TX (3-10x as strong as morphine) / Fentanyl

OPIOIDS Other names they go by? - Oxycodone - Codeine: Lean; Purple stuff - others? ______________

OPIOIDS II. Medical Uses As pain reliever (morphine, demerol, codeine, lortab, lorcet, percodan, percocet, vicodin, oxycontin) with chronic pain or terminal patients in some cough suppressants treatment of diarrhea, which is dehydrating

OPIOIDS III. Prevalence Heroin compared to non-medical use of rx Pain meds: Lifetime Past Year Current 2010: H: ___% ___% ___% P: ___% ___% ___%

OPIOIDS IV. Mechanisms of action opiates trigger our own brain chemicals, _________________________________ naloxone ____________ effects of opiates by blocking opiate receptor sites

OPIOIDS V. Effects produces short-lived euphoria, profound relaxation, body warmth (lowers body temp) tolerance develops rapidly so increasing doses is very common drug taking becomes a chore to avoid withdrawal SX - illustrates ? reinforcement

A diagram of Siegel’s rat experiment Rats: heroin tolerant Control rats: No heroin tolerance Received injection of heroin 15 mg/kg in familiar environment Received injection of heroin 15 mg/kg in unfamiliar environment Received injection of heroin 15 mg/kg for first time Overdose rate: % Overdose rate: % A diagram of Siegel’s rat experiment To some degree, drug tolerance is associated with environmental factors. Tolerance may disappear or decrease if a drug is used in an unfamiliar environment.

OPIOID WITHDRAWAL Stoppage (or reduction] in opioid use that has been heavy and prolonged (several weeks +) OR administration of opioid antagonist after period of use Symptoms include: (need at least 3 for DSM criteria) dysphoric mood - yawning diarrhea - fever muscle aches - dilation of pupils, piloerection insomnia or sweating nausea or vomiting runny eyes or nose

OPIOIDS VI. Treatment methadone TX: peak concentration occurs 2-4 hours after taken, in contrast to effects of other opiates which kick in right away like a hammerblow; metabolites of methadone are inactive, unlike other narcotics blood levels of methadone, when given orally, is below ED level in tolerant patients, and is ________________________________________ ________________________________________ LAAM, naltrexone, buprenorphine - TCs

OPIOIDS - Controversy Needle exchange programs to prevent HIV: are you pro/con? Should heroin be given to terminal patients? Do terminal patients have right to die with drugs? Should non-terminal pain patients be freely medicated with morphine or even stronger painkillers?

Prescription Opioid Abuse Historical Aspects 1990 - Current Through the efforts of pain control advocates, organized medicine, scientific journals, & malpractice suits, prescribing opiates for pain became more common during the last decade of the 20th Century Opioid therapy became accepted (although often inadequately) for treating acute pain, pain due to cancer, & pain caused by a terminal disease Still disputed is the use of opioids for chronic pain not associated with terminal disease

Evolving Landscape of Drugs of Abuse Farming Pharming 13

Potential subpopulations of prescription Opioid Abusers Persons who abuse or are dependent on only prescription opioids Abusers of other opioids, e.g., heroin, when they cannot get their drug of choice Polydrug abusers Pain patients who develop abuse or dependence problems on these drugs in the course of legitimate medical treatment

Why Has the Abuse of Prescription Drugs Been Increasing? Increasing numbers of prescriptions Others? Attention by the media & advertising (television and newspaper) Easier access (e.g. internet availability)

Number of Prescriptions (in 1000s) As Prescriptions Increase, ER Reports Have Increased at the Same or Faster Rate Number of Prescriptions (in 1000s) Source: IMS Health for Prescriptions and SAMHSA (DAWN) for Emergency Department Mentions Hydrocodone Oxycodone prescriptions emergency 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000 80000 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 6000 12000 18000 24000 ED Mentions .