Opiate Addiction

• What is Opiate?
• Why people use Opiate?
• What are the signs of Opiate addiction?
• What are the side effects of Opiate addiction?
• How to treat Opiate addiction?

What are Opiates?
The term Opiate pertains to all substances that derive from the opium poppy plant. Opiates are narcotic drugs which affect the brain’s responses.

Why people use Opiates?
Because opiates trigger the “reward system” of the brain, opiates became popular for abuse.
It was found that the narcotic effects of the opium poppy have been known since the Neolithic period in Switzerland. From the poppy, a milky substance may be extracted and dried to become opium, which is then synthesized or processed to produce a different substance. Morphine and Codeine are examples of opiates.

What are the signs of Opiate addiction?
The symptoms of Opiate addiction are similar, since its base ingredient is opium. Opiate addiction may be manifested by an individual through changes in his mood or appearing at a loss or it looks like he is in a trance. Opiate abusers may also look like they are in a euphoric or tranquil state.

What are the side effects of Opiates?
Opiates, which are substances derived from Opium have the following known side effects:

• Acquisition of other diseases like AIDS and Hepatitis due to the use of unsterile needles when intravenous use of the drug is done
• Slows down respiration rate
• An increased sexual appetite that may also lead to unhealthy and dangerous sexual habits
• Spontaneous abortions (in pregnant women)
• Chills or feeling nauseated
• Poor eyesight

The magnitudes of these effects still depend on the kind, amount, and how the opiates are introduced to the body.

How to treat Opiate addiction?
Drug treatment is possible for opiate users.

If you know someone with an opiate addiction problem, please get them some help right away.

Find a drug rehabilitation center near you in our drug rehabilitation centers list and contact a drug rehab counselor immediately.

Use our First Step drug withdrawal book to help make coming off drugs easier and less painful.

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