Intro to psychology
Stacy Vautour sf2 11am
Relapse Prevention for Opiate Abuse
Opiates, Opium, and Opioids are all derived from the opium poppy. Each drug has different characteristics, uses, and effects on the body. Raw opium comes directly from the plant (pod), opiates (e.g. morphine and heroin) are refined from opium, and opioids (e.g. hydrocodone and methadone) are synthetic derivatives of morphine. Many opioids are used for medical reasons; for example, methadone and buprenorphine are used for detoxification, and oxymorphone is used for anxiety and shortness of breath. The most common use for opioids and opiates is pain management.
Heroin, a semisynthetic opioid, was originally used as a cough remedy and for treating tuberculosis. It is extremely addictive and its abuse became noticed in the 20th century. Heroin is usually a brownish or white powder and is used a few different ways. One way is burning it and inhaling the fumes through a straw (“chasing the dragon”). China white, black tar, and Columbian heroin are other forms and those are mostly injected although some may snort the china white. When opioid receptors were examined it was found that heroin fills the brain’s receptors almost completely, stimulating feelings of well-being and pain relief at high intensity. This is why addiction is so common and when it comes to withdrawing from this particular drug the effects are extremely uncomfortable. Unfortunately people who are depressed or going through a tough time in their life seem to abuse heroin even more because the temporary “euphoric” feeling seems to make them forget about the unhappy feelings. Consequently the really good feeling that is chased by heroin users doesn’t last that long so the constant need to use the drug and the constant need to raise the amount being used can lead to overdose and death in some cases. Although a heroin addict constantly desires and seeks heroin, with possession the loss of control...