Morphine Addiction Treatment

What is Morphine?

Morphine is often considered to be the original opiate painkiller, which dates back as far as 1805. It is commonly used today by doctors for relief of pain from with surgeries, cancers or for ongoing pain management. Morphine absorbs into the body quickly and, like other opiates, changes the way the brain responds to pain. Just like other opiate painkillers, tolerance happens quickly which leads to dependence and eventually, abuse. Unfortunately, morphine is a powerfully addictive narcotic and has become widespread on the streets.

Many doctors are unfortunately poorly trained in the dangers of opioids, or, how to safely monitor and prescribe them. In our overmedicated culture, painkillers tend to be handed out like candy, with little education. When dependence or addiction sets in, most general doctors are not properly equipped to help.

How this Addiction Develops

Like other pain management medications, individuals will develop a tolerance over time, which turns into a need for more and that sends them spiraling into dependence. Once dependence has started, the pain of withdrawal, or the inability to cope without the substance becomes a full blown addiction. Most people do not even realize that they are developing the tolerance that sets the whole chain reaction into motion. Commonly, this happens even using as directed by a healthcare professional. A lot of times, the fault lies in the general doctor or healthcare provider. Commonly, patients will run into the following problems or experience with their physician:

They don’t have experience recognizing the signs of morphine dependence
They don’t realize that their patients are developing morphine tolerance
They do not properly wean the patient off of morphine and then on to non-narcotic medications or provide relief therapies
They are over prescribing or giving longer prescriptions than they should
Have not worked in a residential or intensive outpatient (IOP) substance abuse detoxification and rehabilitation treatment center for at least 1 year

The last note is a best case scenario – but it is very helpful for medical professionals to understand exactly what the drugs they are prescribing do and how to help them!

Side Effects of Regular Use

Therapeutic use of morphine for a very short period of time in people with no history of substance abuse isn’t usually associated with opiate addiction. Regular side effects of morphine use may include:

Cramps
Constipation
Drowsiness
Weight loss
Constricted pupils
Fever
Elevated blood pressure
Thirst
Swelling
Muscle spasms and pain

Morphine Misuse

Morphine is a Schedule II narcotic that is abused orally, snorted, smoked or injected. Morphine, when broken down and processed becomes heroin. Because they are so chemically similar, they share very similar risks when it comes to addiction and withdrawal. Since morphine is the original painkiller, with a long history of use and misuse, it is often the standard when it comes to understanding other opiates.

You can look at it like this:

1. Hydrocodone = morphine
2. Oxycodone is 1.5 times stronger than morphine
3. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine

Side Effects of Abuse

Morphine misuse is associated with relaxation and euphoria. It’s like alcohol in pill form. Morphine brand names include: Avinza, Kadian, Ms Contin, Morphabond. There are also many street names for morphine including: Dreamer, Emsel, First Line, God’s Drug, Hows, M.S., Mister Blue, Morf, Morpho, Unkie. Overusing and abusing morphine can result in some dramatic effects:

Face swelling
Finger swelling
Elevated blood pressure
Fever
Impaired Focus
Difficulty breathing
Blue nails
Blue lips

During severe overdose to morphine or any similarly powerful opiate, your breath will become increasingly shallow and you will begin to lack oxygen. This creates a nearly bluish tint to your skin, nails and lips. If you ever see a friend or loved one get to this point, it is vital to call 911 immediately.

Behaviors

Morphine dependent people compulsively seek morphine or any suitable opioid substitute. Despite the health, legal and social consequences often associated with their addiction. Many times this leads to using street narcotics, or seeking multiple doctors to get as many prescriptions as possible. In some cities, pain management clinics have opened for no reason other than to deal out prescriptions or pills. Typically, these clinics are shut down quickly. If you notice any erratic behaviors, financial difficulties or reduction in health, there is a chance that an opiate addiction is present. Due to the extreme nature of opioid withdrawal, we recommend medically assisted detox from a licensed and professional facility near you, such as Royal Life Centers.

Morphine Detox

The first stage of recovery from any drug is the detox phase. Detoxing from powerful opiates is a challenging process without medical assistance. Medical detox typically lasts 5-10 days, though some side effects of the withdrawal may persist. Although it is very unpleasant, withdrawal from opiates are not usually life threatening as it is with Valium or alcohol. Serious side effects, such as seizures or hallucinations may occur if you try quitting cold turkey which is why it is advised to always work with a medical team.

Morphine Withdrawal

Many factors will affect the severity and duration of withdrawal, even when you choose to medically detox. Your age, overall health and how much you’ve been abusing will all change one person’s experience from another. Symptoms of withdrawal can start as early as 6 hours after the last dose and persist for 10 days or more (in more serious cases). Symptoms of Withdrawal:

Muscle aches
Sweating
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Seizures
Dilated pupils
Mood swings
Hallucinations
Anxiety
Delusions

Recovery

Once medical detox has been complete, it is important to start regular ongoing treatment and therapy to better understand morphine and drug dependence. In doing so, you will continue to learn coping mechanisms and tactics to prevent relapse. The programs offered at Royal Life Centers helps to promote a lasting, sober lifestyle through sobriety and beyond. Our addiction specialists are dedicated to providing the best case available. Our holistic, evidence-based approach to psychotherapy incorporates individual and group sessions. We use other holistic methods, such as art, music and animal therapy to help our guests to learn to express themselves and communicate. Our treatment features state-of-the-art activity, movement, and adventure therapies to create one program that treats mind, body, and spirit. At Royal Life Centers, we believe that emotional healing is just as important as physical healing.

Reach Out

If you or a loved one has a dependency or addiction to codeine, or any substance use disorder, please reach out to us about your detox and treatment options. Royal Life Centers admissions staff is available 24/7 to answer your questions and address your concerns. We can be reached at 888-716-4070. Because We Care.

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