Opiates

Opiates: what, exactly are they?!? Opiates are used to induce sleep and alleviate pain. They act as depressants to the central nervous system. Opiates are a type of narcotic drug containing or derived from opium.

Two Types Opium (Natural) Opioid (Man- made)

Morphine -- a naturally occurring substance in the opium plant; is the drug that all other opiate drugs are compared to for effectiveness; pain reliever; highly addictive. Codeine – naturally found in the opium plant, however, most of the codeine used for pharmaceutical purposes is made by chemically changing morphine; pain reliever; cough suppressant. Hydrocodone – semi-synthetic; most frequently prescribed opiate medication. Oxycodone – semi-synthetic; pain reliever; illegal use is common. Methadone – synthetic; pain reliever, commonly prescribed for morphine or heroin addictions. Fentanyl – synthetic; 80 times more potent than morphine; commonly prescribed as a skin patch for slow delivery of the drug; highly addictive. Heroin – opioid manufactured from morphine; has no medicinal use; illegal; highly addictive. Examples include….

Street names Brand NameGeneric VicodinHydrocodone Oxycontin, PercocetOxycodone Duragesic, ActiqFentanyl DarvonPropoxyphene AvinzaMorphine Tylenol 3Codeine

Therapeutic uses

Effects of abusing opiates Slow respiration and heartbeatDriving or operating machinery becomes a hazardous situationAddiction/dependencyToleranceWithdrawalSignificant amount of time spent in activities to obtain opiatesDepressionAnxietyWeakened immune systemSocial and interpersonal problems

Withdrawal symptoms Refers to the wide range of symptoms that occur after stopping or dramatically reducing opiate drug use after heavy or prolonged use. AgitationAnxietyMuscle achesInsomniaRunny noseSweatingNauseaVomitingDepression

Health risks Heart damage Mental health and cognition issues Loose the ability to think clearly Depression

Treatment approaches Supportive care/psychotherapy Medication (clonidine is the most commonly used, but subutex has been shown to work better and may be used for long time maintenance) Support groups

Activity Take the following self evaluation to help you determine if you may have an opiate addiction: Did you begin taking a prescription pain reliever because you had an injury? Do you have a hard time paying attention when you are driving while on your medication? Are you experiencing any social or interpersonal problems? Is your tolerance increasing? Do you spend a lot of time figuring out how you are going to obtain your medication? Have you began to obtain it illegally? Do you experience withdrawal symptoms when you don’t have any medication? Do you feel that you have lost the ability to control your desire for the medication? If this sounds like you, then it is probably safe to say that you have an addiction to opiates. But don’t worry…treatment options are available, and you can learn how to live without your opiate of choice. Best of luck to you!

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