Regularly used in the course of medical treatment, morphine is dispensed as a medication to target and relieve pain. It is also employed as a general anesthesia for many types of surgeries. However, when used for illicit purposes, morphine transports the user to a state of extreme relaxation and painlessness. As an opiate, morphine falls into a class of highly addictive drugs that act on opioid receptors throughout the body and the brain’s chemical messengers, known as “neurotransmitters.” Morphine’s high can become quickly addictive — and over time, many users will come to rely on morphine for mood regulation, stress reduction and emotional escape as physical and psychological addiction takes hold.
How Does Morphine Affect the Brain?
Morphine takes action on opiate receptors situated in the brain and spinal column. In the body’s most natural state, endorphins and enkephalins – naturally occurring substances in the body — work together to promote a sense of well-being and relieve pain when it occurs. Morphine begins to replace these natural chemicals in larger quantities than the body can naturally supply. Once morphine has been introduced into the body, pain signals associated with a given injury or medical condition become blocked and are not properly relayed, providing the suffering individual with relief. Morphine ultimately works to block these signals at the receptor sites, preventing the brain from registering pain while simultaneously creating an emotional and psychologically pleasurable response by affecting the brain’s reward centers.
Not all effects of morphine on the brain remain positive, however. In fact, studies have shown that cognitive processes become easily impaired by even short-term abuse of morphine. Memory becomes affected by chronic morphine abuse, as successful information storage becomes impeded by the drug’s sedative effects, particularly stemming from repeated stimulation of the brain’s synapses. In fact, a recent study discovered that even a single use of morphine can cause issues with inhibitory synapse connections, obscuring the mind’s ability to store and recall information.
The Development of Morphine Addiction
Over time and with ongoing usage, addiction to morphine may develop. In fact, repeated exposure to morphine can cause over-stimulation of the brain’s pleasure sensors, affecting natural neurochemical balance (known as “homeostasis”) within the brain. Dopamine and serotonin levels become affected, causing the brain to reduce its natural production of these vital chemical messengers – and ongoing usage can deplete the brain’s natural reserves of chemicals associated with pleasure. As a result, users feel the psychological sting of chemical imbalance when the opiate is absent from the system – usually in periods between uses or during addicted individuals’ attempts at cessation.
When morphine addiction has taken hold, long-term cravings often become the first signal of chemical dependency. Morphine withdrawal can also lead to emotional dysphoria and depression as the brain’s chemical balance becomes affected. Likewise, detoxing and withdrawing from morphine can cause a host of trauma – both physical and emotional. Morphine-addicted individuals should never attempt to detoxify from the drug alone, as the trauma of withdrawal can lead to strokes, heart attacks, and – if not properly managed – coma or even death. In some rehabilitation facilities, methadone may be employed in order to assist users with morphine withdrawal – though its usage remains controversial due to both its addiction potential and its interruption of the natural withdrawal process. In many cases, “natural detox” – or drug-free medically supervised detox – is employed instead.
Symptoms of Morphine Withdrawal
Withdrawal symptoms associated with morphine addiction can prove intense. In fact, the first symptoms of withdrawal typically appear just a few hours after the last administration of the drug. The earliest symptoms morphine users experience tend to include watery eyes, insomnia and some emotional irregularity. As the withdrawal progresses, users withdrawing from morphine addiction will often display nausea, tearing up in the eyes, chills, goosebumps, and excessive yawning. Body temperature can begin to dysregulate, causing those detoxing from morphine to endure profuse sweating that can last up to 72 hours. Deep muscle and bone pains, constipation, diarrhea, and other abdominal and muscular issues (including involuntary jerking of the limbs) also tend to arise during morphine withdrawal. Morphine crosses the placental barrier, so infants born to mothers who use morphine will go through withdrawal as well.
Challenges of Morphine Detox
Because of the severity of morphine as a narcotic, unique health challenges are presented with users who attempt to detox from the powerful opiate without professional assistance. Serious health risks become present for users who have a long-established history and have engaged in considerable use of morphine throughout the duration of addiction. The dangers associated with morphine withdrawal are most prevalent during the initial period of detoxification, as systolic and diastolic blood pressure rise, heightened likelihood of heart attacks occur, and interruption or dangerous slowing of respiration may happen.
Emotional issues that can arise during morphine withdrawal should be monitored by addiction professionals – and health care experts – during detoxification. As users may find paranoia heightened, it’s important to monitor them for any signs of danger to themselves or others. Issues of depression, dissociation and anxiety can be treated with psychiatric medications or addiction counseling, in order to prevent the onset of secondary mental health conditions or severe responses such as suicidal ideation. Additionally, medical and mental health support can prevent relapse during this crucial period, when psychological effects of withdrawal lead many addicted individuals back into reuse.
Finding Morphine Rehab Information
If you or someone you love struggles against morphine addiction, we invite you to call our toll-free helpline now. Trained addiction intake counselors are on the line to help provide you with morphine rehab information and guide you through your options for morphine detoxification and addiction treatment. Safe, drug-free solutions exist to help you comfortably recover from morphine addiction and begin a life of lasting sobriety.
