Living with chronic pain can be difficult. Fortunately, there are options for pain management, including the use of some prescription painkillers like morphine.
While extremely beneficial to some, these drugs can become nightmares for others. What may start as a normal prescribed use can quickly spiral out of control and become a full-blown addiction in no time.
To make matters worse, drugs like these can become deadly when taken in excess or combined with alcohol or other medications.
If you are concerned about morphine addiction in yourself or a loved one, the good news is that there is help. Morphine rehab in Arizona is available at Pinnacle Peak Recovery. Rehab programs such as this can help get you back to the life you deserve.
More than 230 tons of morphine are used every year for medical purposes in the United States. According to a report published by the Global Addiction Network About Drugs (GINAD), approximately 10% of Americans have admitted to abusing this drug at one point in their lives. In the four years between 2004 and 2008, the number of patients admitted to an emergency room for care related to this addiction increased by 106%.
What is morphine?
Morphine is a powerful medication that is commonly used to treat moderate to severe pain. It belongs to the class of drugs known as opiates—the same group of drugs as heroin. It is considered a narcotic due to its high rate of abuse or misuse by patients, along with the effects the drug has on the body. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies it as a Schedule II substance, indicating its high potential for abuse.
Morphine use goes back more than 200 years when it was originally extracted from opium plants by a 21-year-old pharmacist’s assistant. After several years of experimentation, scientists became interested in the drug for its potential use in the medical field. It quickly became the drug of choice for pain management and is considered the most potent of all drugs that fall into this category. Some of the common brand names include:
- Roxanol
- Kadian ER
- MS Contin
- Morphine Sulfate ER
- Embeda
The drug is widely used today by doctors to treat pain. It can be administered via injection or orally in the form of a pill or syrup. People who abuse the drug may also crush up the pills and smoke them. Some common street names for morphine include:
- M
- Monkey
- Auntie M
- Drone
- Morph
- Dreamer
- Goodfella
- Murder 8
- Tango and Cash
- TNT
Is morphine addictive?
Morphine is incredibly addictive because of the effects it has on the body. It works by primarily attaching itself to the opioid receptors in the brain, essentially blocking pain signals to the body. It also has many other effects on the body such as lowering blood pressure, slowing heart rate and breathing, and causing a feeling of euphoria.
Because the drug is so effective at treating pain and producing this feeling of euphoria, it does not take long for a person to develop an addiction to it. As with many drugs, the body develops a natural tolerance to it as use continues. This means that the user will have to increase their dosage or use more often to reach the same level of high.
Many people start using morphine for one of two reasons: either they have been prescribed the drug by a doctor and have a medically necessary reason to use it, or they have obtained it without a doctor’s prescription and are using it in place of another opioid substance such as heroin. In this case, addiction or drug abuse already exists, and the user is simply replacing one drug for another.
However, in the case of a valid prescription by a doctor, addiction may come as a surprise to the user. That is because they may be using the drug per the doctor’s orders and become physically dependent on it because of the effects it produces throughout the body. Before long, misuse and abuse can develop, eventually leading to addiction.
What are the signs of morphine addiction and abuse?
As with many drugs, there are signs and symptoms of addiction to morphine. There are some indicators that are physically present and others that are based more on a person’s behavior. Knowing these warning signs can mean the difference between early detection leading to treatment and allowing the addiction to spiral out of control.
It is important to be able to distinguish between side effects that normally come along with regular, approved use of the drug and signs of addiction. For example, many people who use the drug properly may still experience any of the following side effects:
- Lower blood pressure
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Itchy skin
- Slowed breathing
If you are concerned that you or a family member may be developing an addiction to morphine, here are some of the warning signs you will want to look for:
Physical Signs
- Impaired physical appearance
- Decreased or lack of appetite
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pinpoint pupils
- Low blood pressure
- Constipation
- Inability to focus or pay attention
- Itchy skin
- Dizziness
- Very shallow breathing
- Extreme drowsiness or nodding off
- Blue tint to fingers or lips
Changes in Behavior
- Doctor shopping
- Stealing
- Lying
- Sudden financial problems
- Sudden legal trouble
- Poor judgment
- Change in social circles
- Withdrawing from usual activities
- Faking injuries or hurting self to obtain more medication
- Poor hygiene
- Neglecting daily responsibilities
- Mood swings/irritability
If you or a loved one are using morphine regularly and displaying any of these signs of abuse, it is definitely time to sit down and assess the situation. Being open and honest is the first step to asking for help.
Can morphine addiction be treated?
If you have decided that you need help with your addiction, there is good news. You are not alone, and help is available. Depending on the severity of the addiction, withdrawal symptoms may range from mild to severe. For this reason, it is best to have some kind of guidance during your journey back to sobriety.
If you have been misusing this drug for a long period of time or combining it with other substances such as alcohol, it may be a good idea to find a medically supervised detox center. These facilities can provide medical oversight, counseling, and sometimes medication to help with the pain and discomfort that may be experienced from withdrawal.
Once you have cleansed your body from the addictive substance, you can begin to work on healing your mind and your soul. This holistic approach to treatment for morphine addiction has proven to be very successful when it comes to dealing with substance use. The best place to find such treatment is in a licensed facility that has knowledgeable and compassionate staff members available to help you through any struggles you may have.
Rehab centers like Pinnacle Peak Recovery can provide you with a wide variety of treatment options, including this holistic approach, to suit your individual needs. We are proud to be a top-rated drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility located in Scottsdale, Arizona. We offer cutting-edge, evidence-based treatment in a comfortable environment.
How does rehab and detox treatment help with morphine?
When you call our hotline, you will speak with an intake counselor who will initially gather extensive information from you. This will help them guide you to the next best step for your treatment. We know that no two people are exactly the same – and your treatment plan shouldn’t be either. That’s why we create an individualized strategy for each of our clients that are as unique as you are.
Rehab can help with morphine addiction in several ways. First of all, you will receive counseling and guidance through every phase of your journey. Having a case manager and a therapist who understands what you are going through is critical to a successful recovery.
In addition to this one-on-one counseling you will receive, there are also many opportunities to participate in group therapy sessions. This type of environment allows you to bond with your fellow peers and begin to form meaningful, long-lasting friendships. Having a sober support network like this will likely come in handy long into the future to help you keep from relapsing.
There are many treatments that you can receive while enrolled at our facility. Depending on what you and your case manager decide is the best course of action for your situation, you may take part in one or more of the following types of treatment:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Dual Diagnosis Treatment
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Experiential Treatment
- Holistic Treatment
Is rehabilitation and treatment available in Arizona?
Pinnacle Peak Recovery offers one of the leading morphine rehab programs available today. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, we provide a kind, caring and nurturing approach with all of our clients. Our number one goal is to see you succeed. That is why our dedicated staff takes all of your concerns and needs into consideration and builds a custom treatment plan that is as unique as you are.
Various rehab programs offer different degrees of intensity with regard to the treatment you can receive.
the Right Step to your morphine addiction Treatment today. call our center!
If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction to morphine, you are not alone. Our rehab program can help you regardless of how you began abusing the substance. Our compassionate staff is genuinely dedicated to helping create your addiction-free future.
Why wait another day? Make the phone call now to 866-377-4761. You don’t have to suffer any longer. Let Pinnacle Peak Recovery help you find your new path to a life of sobriety and happiness.