Morphine 英三 1 3 rd Jan. 2014

Summary Morphine is a very potent drug known as an opiate that is used in the field of medicine to relieve pain. Opiates naturally occur in poppy seeds, or they can be synthetically manufactured. They work on the area of the brain that perceives pain, thus reducing the patient’s experience of it.

Summary Because the side effects of morphine are significant, and the risk of addiction is high. The German pharmacist first isolated morphine. He called it morphium after the Greek god of dreams.

Summary Although morphine is not a hallucinogen, it is more than just a pain reliever. Morphine also produces a euphoric mental state and relieves anxiety. Even people who do not suffer from chronic pain may find enjoyment from morphine, making it a popular street drug.

Summary Before the advent of heroin, a morphine derivative, morphine was commonly abused. But because heroin is more potent and faster acting, it replaced morphine. Heroin addicts often use morphine as a substitute.

Summary Morphine was used early on to treat opium addiction, and even alcoholism, until it was realized that it was more addictive than both of those drugs.

Summary There are two main indicators of addiction - -- withdrawal and tolerance. Tolerance occurs when a patient needs more and more of a drug to achieve the same effects. Withdrawal occurs when the body shows signs of needing the drug.

Summary A morphine addict, having gotten through eight to twelve days of withdrawal without resorting to morphine use, is no longer physically addicted. Relapse is very common among morphine addicts, particularly if the factors in their lives that led them to drug abuse are not changed.

Summary To summarize, morphine is a highly effective drug that can be used to alleviate pain, but it should be used under the close supervision of a doctor. The risk of addiction is high, and withdrawal is a painful process—the psychological element of which can last a lifetime.

True or False ____ Morphine is a type of opiate and is used in the field of medicine to relieve pain. ____ Opiates naturally occur in poppy seeds, but they can’t be synthetically manufactured. ____ Opiates work on the area of heart that perceives pain, thus reducing the patient’s experience of it. T F F

True or False ____ The side effects of morphine are significant, and the risk of addiction is high. ____ A German doctor first isolated morphine. ____ Although morphine is a hallucinogen, it is more than just a pain reliever. T F F

True or False ____ Morphine also produces a euphoric mental state and relieves anxiety. ____ Only people who suffer from chronic pain may find enjoyment from morphine, making it a popular street drug. T F

True or False ____ Heroin is a morphine derivative and heroin addicts have trouble finding their drug, they often use morphine as a substitute. ____ Before the advent of morphine, heroin was commonly abused. ____ Heroin is more potent and faster acting, it replaced morphine. T T F

True or False ____ There are two main indicators of addiction --- withdrawal and tolerance. ____ Tolerance occurs when the body shows signs of needing the drug. Withdrawal occurs when a patient needs more and more of a drug to achieve the same effects. T F