OPIATES

DEFINED

List of most common opiates abused with definitions:
CODEINE: a drug made mainly from morphine, used as a painkiller, sedative, and a cough suppressant
OPIUM: an addictive narcotic drug made from the seed capsules of the opium poppy and used in medicine as a painkiller and sedative
HEROIN: a highly addictive drug derived from morphine                                                                                        
OXYCODONE:   A narcotic alkaloid, related to codeine, used as an analgesic and a sedative chiefly in the form of its hydrochloride salt.                     
NARCAN: a potent narcotic antagonist (trade name Narcan) especially effective with morphine
MORPHINE: A highly addictive drug derived from opium and used to treat intractable pain, as in severe injury or metastatic cancer

The term “opiate” describes any of the narcotic opioid alkaloids found as natural products in the opium poppy plant. Opiates are so named because they are constituents or derivatives of constituents found in opium, which is processed from the latex sap of the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum. The major biologically active opiates found in opium are morphine, codeine, thebaine, and papaverine. Synthetic opioids such as heroin, oxycodone, and hydrocodone are derived from these substances, especially morphine, codeine, and thebaine.

When a user ingests an opitate, it goes into the liver and metabloizes into morphine.  In the brain, there are endophins, which are exact replications of morphine.  These endorphine molecules fit into certain receptors; these receptors, when activated, make users feel eurphoria, disphoria and alleviate pain. The body turns the opiates into morphine which attach themselves to the opiate receptors in your brain and spine, which floods the user with the addictive feeling of eurphoria.

SYMPTOMS

1. Lethargy                                                                                                
2. Drowsiness
3. Over sleeping                                                                                    
4. Constricted pupils fail to respond to light                                                 
5. Redness and raw nostrils (from inhaling heroin in power form)                
6. Scars (tracks) on inner arms or other parts of body, from needle injections
7. Possession of paraphernalia, including syringes, bent spoons, bottle caps, eye droppers, rubber tubing, cotton and needles                            
8. Slurred speech 

While someone may not be displaying apparent symptoms of opiate abuse, it may be indicated by frequent visits to different physicians or dentists for prescriptions to treat pain of non-specific origin. In cases where an individual has chronic pain, such as back or tooth pain, and abuse of medication is suspected, it may be indicated by amounts and frequency taken.
Loved ones may find: spoons, light bulbs, tin foil, cotton and plates missing from around the house as well.

HEALTH RISKS

1. Chronic addiction
2. Infectious diseases (i.e. HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B and C
3. Collapsed veins
4. Bacterial infections
5. Abscesses
6. Infection of heart lining and valves
7. Arthritis and other rheumatologic problems

GETTING HELP

Proper treatment for opiate addiction is effective. 

If you or a loved one may be suffering from the effects of opiate abuse, call Alpine Treatment Services today.

RELATED ARTICLES
http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/article_42ddb561-fd40-51b0-9e78-df7c9f186b77.htmlhttp://www.heraldextra.com/news/national/article_fee17f52-e205-512b-8807-ed0ac826bd19.html

Source(s): National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), the FDA, dictionary.com, righthealth.com, drugs.com 

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