5 Signs of an Opiate Addiction
Opiate addiction often develops over time. In some instances, the abuse of opiates is intentional, as may be the case if someone is purposely seeking illegal narcotics like opium or heroin. An addiction to opiates can also be unintentional and stem from the use of prescription medications like oxycodone and codeine for legitimate pain. Regardless […]
The Path to Opiate Addiction
Opiates are the oldest class of drugs in the world still in use today. Every drug in this category is, or was originally meant to be, a pain reliever. For many people who develop a dependence on one or more opiates, the path to addiction often starts when these drugs are taken primarily for their […]
Newest Narcotic Laws in the U.S.
More than 200 million prescriptions are written for opiate drugs each year. These narcotic analgesics, including powerful medications such as Morphine and codeine, are only meant to be used short-term for pain relief purposes because these drugs are highly addictive. Because of the rapid increase in the abuse of narcotics, several new laws for been […]
How the Brain Responds to Opiates
Among the world’s oldest drugs used for medicinal purposes, opiates can serve a useful purpose for patients dealing with severe or chronic pain. However, medications like OxyContin, morphine, and fentanyl are only meant to be used short-term because of the addictive nature of these drugs. The reason why opiates can create a physical and emotional […]
Opiate Epidemic Statistics
A wide range of drugs can be classified as opiates, including legal, prescription medications such as codeine and morphine and illegal “street drugs” like heroin. When taken as directed and used for the short-term relief of chronic pain, opiate drugs can be effective and safe. Unfortunately, opiates can also be highly addictive and contribute to […]
Understanding Opiate Addiction
The intended use of opiate drugs is to provide relief for moderate-to-severe pain. It’s the way opiates work within the brain that sometimes creates a physical dependence to these drugs. Addiction to opiates often develops over time due to prolonged use, which can make it difficult to stop taking these medications. Dependence on opiates can […]