Opiate Addiction

Opiate (opioids) addiction is a larger problem today than most people realize. Many addicts suffer from an addiction to opiates.

Opium has been used in its raw form, both medicinally and for pleasure, for centuries. In fact, the Greeks and Egyptions began using opium around 1500 B.C! Morphine and codeine were isolated and extracted from opium in the 1800's. The hypodermic syringe was invented in 1853 and heroin (diacetylmorphine) was first synthesized in 1874. Methadone came on the scene in1937 and Suboxone (buprenorphine) was introduced in 2002.

Opiates typicaly work by acting as agonists and binding to the receptor sites in the brain and spinal cord. The receptor sides are called delta, kappa, mu and Nociceptin receptors. Each of these receptor types control different functions of the brain. Mu receptors are associated with pain, delta receptors with pain relief and antidepressant effects, kappa with sedation and pupil constriction and Nociceptin with anxiety and depression.

The brain actually makes its own chemicals that bind to these receptors. These chemicals are called endorphins and enkephalins. Opiates bind to the same receptor sites and change the way the brain and spinal cord process pain signals.

In the medical world, opiates are sometimes used to treat diarrhea, moderate to severe pain, severe cough, and sometimes depression. People also use opiates for the sedative effects and because opiates can promote feelings of euphoria and well being.

One of the most common misconceptions about opiates, is that everyone who injects heroin, or morphine, experiences a type of intense pleasure unequaled by any other experience. However, clinical studes show that many people only experience nausea and discomfort after the initial administation of opiates.

Another misconception surrounds opiate withdrawal. When a person is withdrawing from opiates they are not always in excruciating pain or truly suffering, as if often portrayed in the media. This is especially true for the individuals who use a low daily dose of opiates. For this type of low dose user, withdrawal symptoms more closely resemble a mild case of the flu.

One more misconception about opiates is that once an individual uses any opiate they are hooked for life. Actually, becoming dependent does not happen after one dose and regular use of an opiate is more important in establishing physical dependency.

Currently, there are over half a million opiod-dependent people in the United States, with many more around the world. In the U.S., there might be as many as two to three times that amount of occasional users.

Some of the More Recognized Names for Opiates Include:

Natural Products: opium, codeine, morphine

Semisynthetics: heroin, diamorph

Synthetics: methadone (Dolophine), meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (Percodan, Oxycontin), oxymorphone (Numorphan), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), dihydrocodeine, propoxyphene (Darvon), pentazocine (Talwin) and fentanyl (Sublimaze).

Street names: smack, tar, China white, Mexican brown, "H", chiva, horse, white horse, junk, monkey, "M", white stuff, Miss Emma, school boy, horse, "D", OCs, M & Ms, K2s, K4s and others that are being introduced on a constant basis.

Unfortunately, opiates can be both physically and psychologically addicting and are sometimes very hard to quit. In fact, fear of withdrawal is one of the main reasons people keep taking opiates. Withdrawal symptoms can include chills, vomiting, fever, insomnia, depression, yawning, restless arms and legs, and diarrhea. Withdrawals can last from days to weeks, depending on which opiates, average dose, and length of time the individual has been using.

Overdose from opiates can occur and is referred to as the "opioid overdose triad". The triad consists of coma, depressed respiration and pinpoint pupils. Death occurs because the individual's breathing stops.

Fortunately, there is help for those who are suffering from addiction to opiates. Treatment usually consists of using a type of "substitution therapy" using Methadone or Suboxone.

If you, or someone you know, is addicted to opiates and is asking about treatment, you can read more about treatment centers here. Treatment centers for opiate addicted individuals are very similar to treatment centers addressing alcoholism. In fact, most treatment centers these days focus on many types of addiction. If you would like to learn about interventions, you might want to read the article Alcohol and Drug Intervention Information.