health 1

Opiates / Narcotics

Opium, morphine, heroin (black tar heroin), codeine (cough syrups), Dilaudid (hydromorphone), Numorphan, Demerol, Mepergan, Darvon, Percocet/Percodan, Talwin, Pentazone, Propoxyphyene, Fentanyl (China white), Vicodin, Lorcet/Lortab (hydrocodone), Methadone, Oxycontin (oxycodone), Buprenorphine

IV, Oral (Rx), smoking, subcutaneous (chipping), snorting

Physiological Effects : short term

reduces pain,

suppresses cough,

decreases bowel motility

depresses respiration,

pupil contraction

nausea - sometimes vomiting

Psychological Effects - short term

euphoria - rush –

relief from anxiety and tension - twilight state

reduces emotional pain

some people feel disoriented, anxious and depressed

Physiological Effects - long term

Increased tolerance, tissue dependence

constipation, difficulty urinating

decreased sex drive, decreased hormone levels in males and females

(complications from IV use = malnutrition and infections, collapsed veins, liver damage, hepatitis B and C; HIV/AIDS)

Psychological Effects - long term

less and less euphoria - now taking drug to feel normal (Positive reinforcement vs negative reinforcement)

craving and drug seeking behavior

Overdose

Anxiety, paranoia, irregular heartbeat

Dangerous increase in body temp

respiratory depression = slow onset, quickly remedied with naloxone (Narcan) or naltrexone

siezures

coma death

Withdrawal / Detox

Not life threatening

4-6 hours: yawning, runny nose, sweating, tearing, craving

12 hours: goose bumps, dilated pupils, loss of appetite, muscle tremors, irritability

24-72 hours: insomnia, yawning, muscle weakness, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, chills/fever, abdominal pain, flushing, muscle spasms, “kicking”

Drug Interactions

opioid and analgesic additive effect for pain relief (Darvon, Percodan etc)

Speedball: heroin and cocaine or amphetamine injected (antagonist)

opiates and alcohol – synergists

naloxone

Treatment

High incidence of relapse - takes many attempts to quit

“protracted Abstinance Syndrome”

8-12 months inability to tolerate stress or discomfort

Replacement therapy= Harm reduction

Methadone Maintanance, suboxone/buprenorophine

Naltrexone- antagonist, blocks receptor sites

Buprenorpnine: 2006: newest addition:

Long acting partial agonist that acts on the same receptors, relieving drug cravings

Vivitrol- long acting opiate given as a monthly injection

Consumer Reports- Dangers of painkiller meds

2011 dangers of opioids and acetemenaphen

Click http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2014/09/the-dangers-of-painkillers/index.htm link to open resource.

https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/relationship-between-prescription-drug-abuse-heroin-use/introduction

News Report: Heroin Epidemic

NYTimes shows changes in US opiate use

Click http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/31/us/heroin-war-on-drugs-parents.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0 link to open resource.

Rx News Update

Click http://www.oregondec.org/rx.htm link to open resource.