Morphine Addiction
Morphine is extremely addictive, especially when taken in larger doses or when injected or smoked. Many people begin taking morphine for pain relief after an injury or surgery. This can quickly intensify into addiction if the person takes more than prescribed or if their doctor doesn’t painstakingly observe their use.
Some individuals are more susceptible to addiction than others because of genes, personal history, and environmental factors. For example, scientists have found that a person’s genes influence the numbers and types of receptors in their brains. Genes can also influence how quickly a person’s body metabolizes drugs and how well they react to different medications. It’s possible that someone whose body rapidly metabolizes morphine, for example, may be more predisposed to addiction.
Symptoms of Morphine Withdrawal
Morphine is difficult to stop suddenly. Using less or quitting can produce uncomfortable flu-like withdrawal symptoms, including:
- Aches and pains
- Nausea
- Fever
- Perspiration
- Chills
To avoid these uncomfortable symptoms, many people will do things they’d never normally do to get the drug, including stealing, physician shopping, and worse. In short, they get stuck in a cruel cycle of addiction.
Side Effects of Morphine Addiction
Morphine addiction can cause long term changes in the way nerve cells work in the brain. Over time, the nerve cells no longer function on their own. As a direct result, someone who is addicted to the drug may find it challenging or impossible to control. The compulsion to use the drug can become overwhelming.
The good news is that once a person ends taking the drug the nerve cells will eventually start to function normally again. But it’s important to undergo morphine detox in a medically supervised setting as withdrawals and cravings can be intense.
Abusing morphine is especially dangerous because the drug is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant. CNS drugs cause shallow, slowed breathing, elevated blood pressure, and excessive lethargy, which can lead to a coma, and even death. People who use morphine are a high risk of overdosing. That’s why it’s so important to get professional morphine addiction assistance.
Morphine Addiction Treatment in South Carolina
Morphine is a non-synthetic narcotic with a strong potential for abuse and is derived from opium. It is used for the treatment of pain. It’s a natural substance extracted from the poppy plant—the same plant used to make heroin. Like all opiates, morphine binds to the opioid receptors in the brain, which release feel-good chemicals that produce feelings of euphoria and even a dream-like state. Street names for morphine include Miss Emma, M, monkey, and white stuff.
BriteLife provides comprehensive morphine treatment in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Our luxury addiction rehab provides is a safe environment where clients can focus on themselves and their recovery. We offer a variety of morphine treatment options, including detox and residential inpatient programs.
If you or a loved one is suffering morphine addiction and want help, then please call us at 866-470-2187 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.