What Causes Opiate Addiction

Drug addiction is an enormous global dilemma. Opium-derived compounds became some of the well-known addictive drugs these days. Opium-derived drugs are vastly obtainable and tremendously distributed all over the world. Before discussing the details of opiate addiction, its qualities, and its treatment techniques, it is essential to fully understand the opium-derived compound first.

Basically, an opiate is a substance that is acquired from the sleep-bringing poppy plant. The most common kinds of opium-derived compounds include heroin, thebaine, morphine, codeine, and papaverine. Amusingly, two of the main kinds of opium-derived compounds, heroine and morphine, have the same chemical structures. Because of this characteristic, heroin can be traced in urine testing when morphine is being applied to the human body. According to medical studies, heroin has the ability to be a brain sedative and it has the ability to penetrate the brain faster as compared to morphine. In fact, both medications are even used as pain relievers and tranquilizers that provide rest.

(1) Morphine: Morphine is the most common and the most obtainable opium-derived substance in the world these days. Morphine is a variant of alkaline-derived compound. Morphine is very important in medical studies because it is utilized in the treatment of illnesses like the accumulation of fluids in the lungs. An oversupply of morphine can generate plenty of problems to the wellbeing of the drug dependent person. The health complications triggered by an overdose of morphine include respiratory depression, lung swelling, congestive heart failure, respiratory failure, comatose, as well as death.

(2) Codeine: Codeine is quite related to morphine, in terms of content. Codeine is also used as a prescribed drug for tusis, acute and severe pain, bowel syndrome, and diarrhea. Codeine overdose can create plenty of health complications such as itching, nausea, euphoria, drowsiness, miosis, urinary retention, dry mouth, vomiting, constipation, hypotension, and respiratory complications.

(3) Papaverine and Thebaine: The structure of thebaine is somewhat comparable to structural make-up of morphine and codeine. Thebaine is also known as paramorphine. This kind of drug is not applied without other drugs. Some of the drugs that are administered with thebaine include oxycodone, oxymorphone, naloxone, etorphine, nalbuphine, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. An oversupply of thebaine is absolutely comparable to the side-effects of morphine and codeine.

(4) Heroin: Heroin is believed to be a semi-synthetic narcotic. Because the demand for this opium-based compound is exceptionally eminent, heroin business is also one of the fastest rising illicit industries. The most common method of abusing heroin is the administration of the drug to the human body by means of an injection. Heroin is also known by the brand name Diamorphine. Dependence to heroin may cause acquired immune deficiency syndrome and other venereal diseases. An oversupply of heroin may result to acute problems like frequent constipation, renal failure, respiratory depression, comatose, and also death.

The lone source of opium-based drugs is the poppy plant. The property of opium-based drugs is dependent on the amount of moisture in the poppy plant.

The liquid form of opium-based drugs goes by the name of methadone, a substance that is applied in the removal of toxic substances from the body of drug dependent people. An oversupply of methadone may also lead to addiction.

Opium-derived compounds possess several helpful effects on the human body in moments when they are prescribed by medical specialists as pain relievers. When overabundance, opium-based drugs may result to several severe health complications. Opiate addiction may progress to physical and psychiatric dependence. Muscle pull is a usual side-effect caused by the constant use of opium-based drugs. Lung troubles are considered to be some of the side-effects of opiates. Other effects of opiate addiction include hypotension, skin rashes, cracked lips, and constipation. Addiction to opium-derived substances may damage the brain and it may lead to stupor and comatose. Ultimately, a constant consumption of opium-based drugs may lead to the death of the person who is addicted to drugs.

The treatment techniques for opiate addiction may be performed in a residential or a non-residential basis. The entire treatment technique in both instances is divided into two stages: the detoxification and the counseling. Detox involves the removal of toxic substances from the addicted persons body. In counseling, the person who has drug addiction issues is motivated to pursue a better life.

While the patient is going through a variety of treatment techniques, support from his family, his friends, and the society are highly needed.

About the Author

Berlin Flores is a health and nutrition correspondent who is an expert when it comes to opiate addiction topics. Access the opiate addiction site http://www.drugrehabprogram.net for additional details related to opiate addiction.

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