Opioids Research Paper

Addictive drugs cause dopamine neurons to release dopamine, the pleasure hormone. The narcotics disable the neurons that would usually keep the dopamine neurons in check; becoming over stimulated. Endorphins are produced and released within the brain, creating a high and reinforcing the individual’s positive associations with the activity. Hence “the rush” (Molintas, 2006)

An Opioid such as morphine act by attaching to specific proteins called opioid receptors, which are found in the mainly in the brain, spinal

Opioids (including natural and synthetic) work by binding to opioid receptors in the CNS sending inaccurate signals to the brain about the intensity of pain being experienced, which results in a sedating feeling. Opioids affect how brain feels pleasure. In the event of consuming opioids while not experiencing pain, a person would experience elation, intense joy and comfort. Both aforementioned feelings act as positive reinforcement of opioids. The bodily response of using opioids weakens after a while of use, and the user starts to build up a tolerance. The continual usage of opioids changes how the brain works, where the brain learns to crave opioids when opioids are not available to maintain a ‘normal’ stable state. The CNS starts to send

This hinders the production of the neurotransmitter ACh, resulting in fewer action potentials being transmitted down the neurones and hence a numbing effect is experienced. It is thought that morphine and other narcotics may exploit this natural mechanism that has evolved for the similarly-shaped enkephalins. Heroin is a far more powerful drug than morphine, possibly because the drugpasses the blood-brain barrier far more readily. The heroin is then hydrolysed to morphine once inside the body and so the pain-killing mechanism is likely to be very similar to the way in which morphine works. However, it is common to develop tolerance and desensitization towards opioids as the opioid receptors are continually used. This has been termed “the cascade of cellular adaptation” (Strelzer J, 2001; Borgland SL, 2001). Furthermore, animal studies have suggested that, in the case of morphine taken during chronic pain, not only tolerance is acquired towards its analgesic effects, but also an increased sensitivity towards pain actually develops (Ibuki T, et al, 1997; Celerier E et al, 2001).

The opioid epidemic in America continues to grow at an alarming rate with no end in sight. All narcotics are derived from the opium poppy plant and then manufactured into different forms of drugs such as morphine, heroin, and other pharmaceutical and synthetic opioid drugs sold on the market for pain. Opium derived drugs block and suppress pain by binding to and stimulating the natural receptor sites for endorphins found in the central nervous system of a user’s brain. Patients who are prescribed narcotic drugs can quickly become addicted to the drugs because their body’s will stop producing endorphins and instead

Opioids are drugs that come from opium. Opium is the dried latex which comes from the opium poppy seed. These drugs create an euphoric effect on the brain. They attach to receptors in the brain to release opium. There are four classes of opioids. Endogenous opioids which the body release on its own at moments of joy. Opium alkaloid, semi-synthetic opioids, and fully-synthetic opioid which are all human made chemically in labs.

Analysis: Opioids are a class of drug that are medically used as very effective painkillers, like fentanyl and morphine, however, they are highly addictive and produce a feeling of euphoria (“Opioids”). This combination leads do a lot of abuse and dependency, where people take more than prescribed in order to feel better. People start off taking the opioid painkillers in order to not feel pain as prescribed by their doctors. Then, they end up getting addicted to them. There are also illicit opioids, such as heroin, that are also highly addictive and also lead to dependency and death (“Opioids”). These illicit versions are taken for recreational reasons, and are also often mixed with other drugs. The combination of taking an unregulated drug in conjunction with other drugs leads to a lot of overdoses.

When using, only a few of the minority feel good or truly well while using opioids. Usually when prescribed opioid pain medication the individual does not experience a high. It can prove to be successful and an effective pain management alternative (Canada, 2009). Drug abusers only feel well to the thanks to their non-medical or non-therapeutic use or recreational purpose.

The reason that this drug can be so intense and dangerous is because it falls into the category II narcotics. Many commonly known narcotics include opium, morphine, and heroin. The addiction rate of any of these drugs is phenomenal. Narcotics are central nervous system depressants that relieve pain without causing the loss of consciousness. They can also produce feelings drowsiness, mental confusion and euphoria. The analgesic effects of narcotics result from the drugs’ effects on the emotional aspects of pain. Many patients that experience intense pain say that after the administration of the narcotic, their pain is as intense as ever but no longer as bothersome. Because narcotics block the emotional side effects of pain they make it much more bearable.

The people of Maine are in trouble. We are losing our citizens to opioid abuse at an alarming rate. We have, thus far, been paralyzed to do anything about treating the disease that’s running rampant through our communities, families, and homes. The overprescribing of prescription opiates in the 1990s and 2000s, driven by the profit margins of the multinational companies getting rich on the backs of those in chronic pain, has led to an unprecedented amount of addiction, crime, and death amongst Maine’s people. The strict rules, laws, and changes put in place to curb the prescription and abuse of opioids in the state of Maine has exacerbated an already out of control problem. They have contributed not to the desired lowering of

Opioids are drugs that act on the nervous system to relieve pain. Using them continuously and abusing can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms. They come in different forms such as tablets, capsules and even liquid.

Opioids are pain relievers that bind to opioid receptors on nerve cells throughout the body. They produce feelings of euphoria, tranquility and sedation. However, opioids are “considered the most harmful of all illicit drugs” (Amato et al., 2005, p.321).

The United States is currently in the grips of an opioid addiction epidemic, in fact, in 2014 drug overdoses became the number one cause of accidental death in the United States, beating out both car accidents and gun violence (Opioid Epidemic, 2016). Of those drug overdoses, 60% involved an opioid. An opioid is defined as natural or synthetic chemicals that bind to receptors in your brain or body (Kirby, 2016). Opioids are typically prescribed to address severe or long term pain. Although they do a lot of good, when misused they can have deleterious effects on the health of an individual and are highly addictive.

both the beneficial effects, and the undesirable side effects. Opioids are classified in to natural opiates, semi synthetic opiates, fully synthetic opiates, and endogenous opioid peptides. The three receptors found in the body are delta, mu, and kappa.

Moreover, opioid drugs are potent modulators of many physiological and psychological processes. When given acutely, they can elicit the signature responses of euphoria and analgesia that societies have coveted for centuries.1 Repeated, or chronic, use of opioids induces adaptive or allostatic