Morphine

Morphine is a naturally occurring substance that is procured from opium, the juice obtained from poppy seeds (Kestin, 1993). This means that it is classified as an opioid. Morphine mainly acts on the mu receptors of nervous tissue (Kestin, 1993). Morphine is used to alleviate severe pain (Drugfree, 2013), and is often used for pain that no other analgesics can control (Administrator, 1898). The drug can work within the brain to relieve pain, but it can also act upon the spinal cord to keep it from sending pain signals to the brain (Kestin 1993). It can produce a calming effect and even euphoria on those who use it.

 

                      

 

The physiologist Francois Magendie was prominent in advancing morphine in the medicine world in the 1800s (Administrator, 1898). The Civil War was also a factor in increasing the popularity of morphine for medicinal reasons. It was used during the war to treat and reduce the pain of the soldiers (Administrator, 1898). It was called “God’s own medicine” (Administrator, 1898). However, it was the first time that people became addicted to the drug. In 1898, morphine’s popularity and credibility began to decline because of how easily people became addicted to it. The 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that nearly 12 million Americans had abused prescription pain relievers, which is a category that includes morphine (Treatment Solutions, 2012).

                Morphine has many side effects besides pain relief. It can cause slow or shallow breathing (Administrator, 1898), nausea, vomiting, cough suppression, delayed emptying of the stomach, constipation, urinary retention, itching and flushing of the skin (Kestin, 1993). It causes changes in the circulatory system and slowing of the digestive tract (Administrator, 1898). Large doses of morphine can lead to severe respiratory depression, coma or death (Drugfree, 2013).

                Morphine is one of the easiest drugs to become addicted to. Studies completed at Brown University show that a single dose of the drug could lead to addictive qualities in a patient (Administrator, 1898). Signs of addiction to morphine include compulsive use, using the drug even though it causes bad consequences and a fixation with getting and using more morphine (Administrator, 1898). Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, agitation, insomnia, sweating, nausea, vomiting, watery eyes, runny nose, drooling and chills (Administrator, 1898). It is commonly sold on the streets and goes by names such as duramorph, M, Miss Emma, monkey and roxanel (Drugfree, 2013).

 

The following video contains more information about the drug morphine, including proper use of the drug and additional warnings about using the drug.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9LmjkMp9Nc

 

References

Administrator (1898). What is Morphine. [online] Retrieved from: http://drug-effects.us/what-is-morphine [Accessed: 2 Feb 2013].

Drugfree.org (2013). Morphine | The Partnership at Drugfree.org. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.drugfree.org/drug-guide/morphine [Accessed: 2 Feb 2013].

Nda.ox.ac.uk (n.d.). Morphine. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.nda.ox.ac.uk/wfsa/html/u03/u03_016.htm [Accessed: 2 Feb 2013].

Treatment Solutions (2012). Morphine Addiction Treatment. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.treatmentsolutions.com/morphine-addiction-treatment/ [Accessed: 2 Feb 2013].