Steps2Rehab - Addictions - Morphine
Morphine, (also known as Big M, Murphy, Cube, Red Cross, Mojo and others) is a highly-potent opiate analgesic drug and is the principle active agent in opium. Morphine is a highly addictive substance, both psychologically and physically, with an addiction potential comparable to that of heroin.
Morphine acts directly on the central nervous system (CNS) to relieve pain, and is as such prescribed in varying forms for a multitude of physical aliments. Morphine is highly addictive when compared to other substances, meaning that tolerance develops rapidly in the individual and that physical and psychological dependence on morphine also develops quickly.
Morphine can be administered several different ways, including:
- Orally
- Intravenous injection
- Intramuscular injection
Withdrawal symptoms associated with stopping using are usually experienced between six and twelve hours after the last dose of morphine, although these time frames can fluctuate depending on the individual's tolerance to the drug. Withdrawal symptoms from morphine generally progress in severity as time increases from the last dose, which further increases the vital need for specialist in-patient treatment that can provide a safe and comfortable detox.
Withdrawal symptoms can include:
- Watery eyes / runny nose
- Insomnia
- Diarrhoea
- Yawning
- Sweating
- Drug cravings
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Body aches
- Severe abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tremors
- Depression
- Alternating cold and hot flashes
- Muscles spasms and bone pain
- In extreme cases, heart rate and blood pressure are elevated and can lead to a heart attack, blood clot or stroke
Major withdrawal symptoms peak between 48 and 96 hours after the last dose and subside after about 8-12 days. A suitable detox programme can administer a narcotic that will dramatically reverse these withdrawal symptoms and help relieve the discomfort and physiological stress of withdrawal.
In addition to significant health risks, the psychological dependence associated with morphine addiction is substantial. Relative to psychological withdrawal experienced from other substances, morphine addicts report a deeper rooted psychological reliance on morphine (than other addicts report about different substances). This severe addiction is illustrated in the profound depression, anxiety, insomnia, confusion, paranoia and low self esteem compacting higher relapse rates for morphine addicts than other types of substance addictions.
Morphine abusers have the highest relapse rates among all drug users. The probability that relapse will occur after morphine withdrawal is dramatically increased when neither the physical nor the behavioural motivators that contributed to the abuse have been altered. Therefore, engaging in a suitable treatment programme, with ongoing aftercare, represents the most positive route into long term recovery.
