Morphine Addiction (Duramorph®, MS Contin®)

How Morphine Affects the Mind

The short-term effects produced by morphine are positive. However, morphine’s long-term effects on the brain are negative. Morphine is arguably the best medication for pain relief, and it provides euphoria.

Over time, morphine can disturb a woman’s menstrual cycle and cause decreased sex drive. Morphine also has some powerful effects on consciousness. When abusing morphine, users can experience reduced mental and physical capabilities.

How Morphine Affects the Body

Put simply; morphine floods a particular group of receptors that are located in a part of the brain. Enkephalins and endorphins are molecules that work together to create euphoria and dull pain. Morphine helps the body to produce these two molecules, which blocks pain receptors.

The sedation effects produced by the body are beneficial. A person’s cough reflex can be significantly reduced with morphine. By providing euphoria, morphine can reduce a person’s anxiety and fear. However, morphine also impairs mental and physical abilities.

Overdose Effects of Morphine

It’s definitely possible to take too much morphine. The overdose symptoms range from mild to severe.

• Slowed heart rate
• Severe drowsiness
• Clammy, cold skin
• Small pupils
• Fluid in lungs
• Low blood pressure
• Difficulty breathing
• Death

After a morphine overdose, early treatment is vital. If an overdose is caught in time, stomach contents can be pumped, which will increase the chance of survival. Many healthcare providers will administer activated charcoal, which will prevent the body from absorbing any more morphine.

Federal Classifications

In the United Kingdom, under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, morphine is a Class-A drug. Morphine is considered a Schedule-two drug in the United States. Morphine is a Schedule-one drug in Canada. Morphine is a Schedule-eight drug in Australia.

In the Netherlands, morphine is a List-one drug, and in Japan, morphine is classified as a narcotic. Morphine is considered to be a Schedule-one drug internationally. People who live in poorer countries simply don’t have any access to morphine. In the United States, morphine is quite cheap.

Over 79 percent of the world’s supply of morphine is consumed in Germany, France, Canada, the United States, Britain, and Australia. Less-affluent countries, which contain over 80 percent of the entire world’s population, consume only 6 percent of the global supply of morphine.

In many countries, morphine is not even available for people who are dying and need pain relief. A few countries don’t even necessary morphine. Experts say that the lack of morphine for pain relief in many countries is due to an unwarranted fear of people becoming addicted to the drug.

Morphine Statistics

One of the main reasons why so many people abuse morphine is because it produces effects that are very similar to heroin. Like the drug heroin, morphine is an opiate drug.

• In 2010, a massive 140,000 individuals tried heroin for their first time, and these individuals were age 12 and older.
• Almost 12 percent of teens in the United States were polled, and they said heroin was readily available.
• Over 20 percent of the population, which includes ages 18 to 25, use some form of illicit drug, which is the category that morphine is listed under.
• After several polls were completed, it was discovered that most users started abusing morphine at the age of 21.
• The number of people addicted to heroin has been steadily rising since 2002.
• Out of the leading causes of emergency room admissions, morphine was ranked number three.

These statistics include information about heroin usage because it’s directly linked to morphine abuse.

More Information about Morphine Addiction

Morphine addiction is actually a behavioral and psychological disease, and it includes a variety of characteristics.

• Preoccupation or obsession with using and obtaining morphine
• Continuing to abuse morphine, even despite negative consequences
• Compulsive use of the drug and a loss of control

Being addicted to morphine can cause a variety of problems in a person’s life. A morphine addict will likely find it hard to maintain meaningful and healthy relationships, build a social life and career and engage in various recreational and social activities.

Many dangerous behaviors normally accompany a morphine addiction. If being prescribed morphine, an addict might increase the dosage before consulting with their doctor; an addict will use their medications early, and they might doctor shop to obtain many prescriptions. It’s also common for addicts to steal money and inject morphine.