Morphine Abuse & Addiction

Morphine can be a useful drug to relieve patient pain in a hospital setting, particularly right after surgery or trauma. But when taken in an abusive manner, morphine is a very dangerous substance because of its high potency and ability to get users quickly hooked. For help in beating morphine addiction, call Treatment Solutions today at .

What is morphine?

Morphine is an opiate derived from the poppy plant. Morphine is classified as a narcotic, and it acts directly on the central nervous system to relieve pain.

Street names for morphine, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, include Duramorph, M, Miss Emma, Monkey, Roxanol and White Stuff.

How is morphine consumed?

Morphine is commonly available in the form of a tablet, syrup, injection or as a suppository. Depending on its form, morphine may be injected, swallowed or smoked. Because of its high potency, morphine is sometimes abused by people who use heroin when they’re unable to obtain heroin, as both drugs are in the same opiate family.

How Widespread is Morphine Addiction?

The 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that nearly 12 million Americans aged 12 or older had abused prescription pain relievers, which is a category that includes morphine, a figure that represented nearly 5% of the entire U.S. adult population.

The numbers are even higher for those who admitted abusing painkillers at some point in their lifetime. Nearly 35 million Americans, or 14%of the U.S. adult population, has abused painkillers at least once in their life.

What Are the Short-Term Effects of Morphine?

Morphine, according to The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, affects regions of the brain that mediate what we perceive as pleasure, resulting in a feeling of euphoria. Other short-term effects of the drug include:

1. Drowsiness
2. Constipation
3. Depressed breathing
4. A large single dose can cause respiratory depression, coma, or death.

What are the Long-Term Effects of Morphine?

1. Physical dependence
2. Increased tolerance (requiring higher and higher doses to achieve the same feelings of euphoria)
3. Hypoventilation, respiratory depression, or shallow breathing
4. Muscle twitch
5. Kidney failure

According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network, in 2006 there were 323,579 emergency room visits where prescription painkillers, a category that includes morphine were a factor.

What Are the Risks of Morphine Addiction During Pregnancy?

Morphine use may be harmful to an unborn baby and could cause addiction or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn. Morphine should only be used by pregnant women when specifically instructed by a doctor. Women who are breast feeding should also only take morphine when recommended by a doctor, as morphine abuse has been found to cause miscarriage in some pregnant women.

Why Is Morphine Addiction So Hard to Overcome?

There are numerous, difficult withdrawal symptoms that frequent users experience when trying to quit morphine, including:

1. Abdominal cramps
2. Diarrhea
3. Nausea
4. Vomiting
5. Chills
6. Increased blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, or body temperature

Where Can People Get Morphine Addiction Treatment?

With help from one of our high-quality substance abuse treatment centers, morphine addiction can indeed be overcome. Treatment Solutions offers clients a wide variety of morphine addiction treatment options that include holistic drug rehab, private drug treatment geared toward corporate executives, and customized outpatient treatment plans. If you’re ready to conquer the morphine addiction affecting you or your loved one, call Treatment Solutions today at .

No matter your insurance, we can help you find medication-assisted opioid treatment and reclaim your life. We also offer many affordable self pay options as well as luxury morphine rehab.

Unsure where to start? Take Our Substance Abuse Self-Assessment

Take our free, 5-minute substance abuse self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with substance abuse. This evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are designed to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result. Please be aware that this evaluation is not a substitute for advice from a medical doctor.