A narcotic sedative which slows down the activity of the central nervous system is called an opiate drug. Opiate drugs lessen pain and stimulate sleep. These, like other prescription drugs, could be beneficial to the body. Yet, when taken abusively can lead to addiction.
Opiate addiction is recognized as a central nervous system disorder. Nonstop and extensive opiate use causes the nerve cells in the brain to stop functioning as they normally and stop producing natural endorphins. Opiate substitutes endorphins in the body. In return, the nerve cells start to degenerate and the body becomes physically dependent on opiates. Studies show that the brain has its own opiate and opiate receptors, which are concentrated in the parts of the brain that manages pain and emotions. The nucleus accumbens is a region in the brain that enhances the release of dopamine. Dopamine gives an individual a high feeling of pleasure and relaxation which can lead to addiction.
Normally, a substance dependent would take actions to conceal the addiction. But eventually it will start to show, both in their behavior and in their attitudes. Symptoms of opiate dependency includes obsessing over medications, obsessing over doctor appointments and the need to get more medicine, being restless, irritable, and angry when not getting enough opiates, being preoccupied with getting more drugs, lying about how much they have used or when they got the medicine, and lying to doctors or faking injuries or illnesses in order to get more medicine. An addict may even go out of their way to the point of inflicting injury to one’s own body to get medication.
Treating opiate addiction is similar to treating any other drug addiction. All treatments always start with the addict willing to overcome the addiction. To recover quickly, professional help is always needed. Detoxification is needed as a first step in treating the addiction. In the procedure of the treatment, withdrawal symptoms could occur. Opiate detox and withdrawal can occur when one suddenly reduces the amount of opiates after intense use. Opiates could be an illegal drug or prescription drugs. Actually, it is the occurrence of withdrawal syndrome that makes an individual to continue using the drug. Furthermore, opiate users often experience drowsiness, vomiting, nausea, muscle soreness, constipation and dry mouth.
Opiate dependency was once viewed as a condition with no solution. Patients with opiate physical dependency were said to have inherited an addictive personality or psychological disorder or to have suffered with a dysfunctional family life. However, studies have been made on how to treat this type of addiction. After more than a decade of NIH-supported animal and human research, buprenorphine became one of the daily-administered medications most recently approved to treat opiate addiction. The discovery of the opiate receptor determined that buprenorphine worked like a treatment already available, termed methadone, by activating opiate receptors and mimicking opiate drugs of abuse. Receptor-activating medications can help relieve drug cravings and control a person’s addiction. Medications should also be paired with behavioral treatment such that the patient is encouraged to think positively and be hopeful that the addiction would later on subside. Also, one’s behavior should be modified as to how they deal with their dependence on the drug.
Opiate is a drug usually used to alleviate severe and chronic pain. It may be safe to think that prescription drugs are safe to take, however, dangerous effects may possibly occur due to misuse or abuse. Opiate can be tolerated by the body and later on may lead to addiction. Treatment may be hard but it is the only way out.
