Morphine is so extraordinarily addictive that it is responsible for over half of the accidental deaths that occur due to illegal drugs. Dependence on morphine, both physically and psychologically, develops rapidly because it works directly on the central nervous system in the body.

Most people start using morphine for its pain-relieving properties and get blindsided by the quickly growing addiction. Individuals become enslaved to the drug because of its powerful effects on the body, emotions and perceptions. The psychological effects of morphine decrease fear, anxiety, anger and depression because it induces euphoria. This euphoric effect is what causes the strong psychological addiction while the withdrawal symptoms are evidence of the extreme physical dependence. The following intense physical symptoms will last at least three days when the use of the drug is halted:

• Dilated pupils
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Chills and goose bumps
• Restlessness
• Muscle spasms
• Runny nose
• Twitching
• Insomnia

Without the appropriate professional intervention, detoxing from morphine is usually unsuccessful and can be potentially lethal. Morphine addiction withdrawal can cause stroke, heart attack, emotional trauma and death. This is why morphine withdrawal should not be attempted “cold turkey” at home, but instead with the proper medical and psychological supervision.

Guide to the Risks of Morphine Abuse

Morphine is used in hospitals for acute severe pain. Morphine is rarely prescribed outside of the hospital setting because of its highly addictive properties. If an individual uses morphine regularly for a period of time, it almost always results in at least physical dependence if not a full-blown morphine addiction.

The most frequently seen side effects of morphine use are vomiting, heavy perspiration, nausea and drowsiness. As tolerance to morphine increases and an individual starts taking larger and larger doses, effects on respiration become a very real danger. In higher doses, morphine depresses the body’s respiration rate and can completely arrest breathing altogether. Another concern is the possibility of increased bleeding from even a minor injury for those people taking a blood thinner such as Coumadin when combined with morphine.

Morphine also causes confusion and hallucinations that may lead to dangerous situations for the person experiencing them. Additionally, chronically abusing morphine leads to a breakdown in the immune system. The reproduction of important immune cells is interrupted by the use of the drug, allowing other serious illnesses to take hold in the body. Also, ironically for some, taking morphine can have a reverse desired effect by actually increasing the feeling of pain.

Finally, long-term use of morphine decreases testosterone levels in the body. This has a variety of reproductive repercussions for men. In both genders, low levels of testosterone can lead to complications with osteoporosis.

Signs You Need Morphine Rehabilitation

Many people unknowingly develop an addiction to morphine even when following the instructions from a legitimate prescription from their doctor. This happens because the brain chemistry is changed from the use of morphine. The capability of morphine to trigger the reward system in the brain is the reason for its highly addictive quality. If withdrawal symptoms are experienced before its time for the next dose then physical dependence is starting to build.

The most obvious sign that a person has a problem with morphine and needs to seek help from a morphine rehabilitation program is an altered state of consciousness that reduces an individual’s ability to function. There are many more possible signs of morphine addiction including:

• Constricted pupils
• Inflated sense of well-being
• Alternating chills and sweating
• Depression and irritability
• Unintentional movements of the eye
• Anxiety and/or agitation
• Higher pain threshold
• Incoherent speech
• Vision problems
• Light-headedness
• Passing out
• Sleepiness
• Disjointed thought processes
• Possible track marks if drug is injected

Finding the Morphine Rehab Program You Need

Morphine addiction can creep up on someone even with the most well-intentioned use of the drug. Morphine’s powerful effect on the brain easily leads to both physical and psychological addiction that needs professional morphine rehabilitation. If you think you or someone you care about has developed an addiction to morphine, don’t wait one more day to look for a rehab that works for you. The longer you wait, the more powerful the addiction becomes and the more intense the withdrawal symptoms will be when you try to break the habit.

For more information on high-caliber morphine addiction rehab centers, contact us today. We can introduce you to highly experienced morphine rehabilitation programs with a variety of treatment options so you can individualize a program to your needs. Don’t spend another minute falling deeper into addiction. Pick up the phone and start moving towards a life free of dependence.