Lasting Side Effects Of Opiate Use

Drug addiction is one of the main causes of crimes, injuries and other societal concerns. Today, there are several chemicals and substances abused by drug addicts such as heroin, oxycontin, morphine and the likes. These substances are commonly referred to as opiates and opiate abuse in a growing problem globally. Because drug abusers are overwhelmed and lulled by the feeling of sniffing and smoking drugs, they often lack ideas on the long-term detriments associated with opiate addiction such as immune system destruction, risk of infectious diseases and brain damage. It is difficult and tough to deal with issues related to addiction to opioid because it necessitates intensive behavioral treatment and medication rehabilitation.

Did you know that opiate abuse has permanent and lasting effects on the health and well-being of drug addicts? Patients aren’t the only ones affected by this issue but also their loved ones and the people around them. Because of its negative effects, it is mandatory to bring drug abusers to rehab centers for therapy.

Statistics and Developments

According to statistics from the Substance Abuse Warning Network, heroin abuse admissions in hospital emergency rooms elevated by 35% since 1995, while morphine and heroin are among the major causes of overdose-related deaths. Statistics from the National Institute on Substance Abuse show that heroin addiction in teens declined since 1990s but increased in 1996,1997 and 2000.

Harmful Impact of Opiates

Generally, opiate’s long-term damage is due to the consumption of strong opiates like morphine, which can be availed in pills form. Some desperate addicts who can’t avail them immediately resorted to grinding the opiates, dissolving them in liquid and injecting them intravenously. This dangerous and risky practice can result in vascular inflammation, obstruction in small arteries, blockage of oxygen supply to other areas of the body, cellulitis and infection of the heart’s lining and valves, pneumonia, liver and renal system damage and collapsed veins. Meanwhile, the short-term effects of opiates include xerostomia, euphoria, flushed skin, and heavy limbs.

Opiate Therapy

Since 1982, methadone has been utilized as the most common medicine to treat opiate abuse because of its capability to reduce the craving for opiate drugs, to minimize withdrawal signs or symptoms and to enable the substance abuser to function again. Buprenorphine has been confirmed more effective compared to methadone because of lesser withdrawal signs or symptoms. In addition, naltrexone is another therapy drug known to hinder the ability of the drug abuser to feel the effect of opiates but it’s not widely used nowadays due to poor compliance of affected individuals.

Now that you know the side effects of opiates abuse, help someone you know who abused opiates. Aid them beat abuse of opioids related problems.