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الجمعة، 1 أبريل 2016

The Opiate Addiction Treatment Techniques

By Peter Cole


The society considers drug addicts as social misfits. Many people do not realize that this is more than just abusing the drugs; it is a disease that needs care and attention just like any other ailment. If left unchecked, it is threatening to tear apart of solid social fabrics. Outlawing the drug use alone is not enough; all of us should learn how an addiction starts, how to avoid it and how to save those already trapped. The most common addiction, we face today is opiate addiction treatment challenges. Surprisingly, not many people really understanding much about it.

An opiate is any drug used for the medical purpose of for any other purpose other than medicine and is an extract from the opium poppy plant. The major opiates include heroin, morphine, codeine, Thebaine and Papaverine. The opiates are widely used in their synthetic forms for pain management. The synthetic forms include oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, Darvon, Methadone and Demerol.

The opiate is an extract from the well-known opium poppy plant. The extracts are so useful in making morphine, codeine, heroine, Thebaine and Papaverine that are used medically. Their synthetic forms such as Methadone, Demerol, Darvon, oxycodone, hydromorphone and hydrocodone and also widely used in the medication procedures. They are widely used to manage anxiety and to suppress pain.

The dependence is when the body is adjusted to "ask" for opiates in order to function "normally". However, the problem with dependence and addiction is that every time, a higher dose is required to be able to have the same effect on the body. At this stage, it is common for a victim to take a large dose that the body is unable to handle leading to fatal consequences including death from respiratory failure.

The physical signs of the drug overdose include labored breathing that tends to be slow and shallow, muscle spasticity, dry mouth, the intestinal spasms, pupil dilation, low blood pressure, constipation, and lower mental capacity such as disorientation and drowsiness. The addicts are associated with frequent nodding in and out of the consciousness.

The addicts most commonly introduce the drug into the body by a direct intravenous injection which brings immediate effects. However, the sharing of needles (which is very common with addicts) substantially increases the risk of contracting HIV and other common infectious diseases. The drug can also be smoked, sniffed, or swallowed. Overdose comes with immediate and clear signs such as low blood pressure, pupil dilation, slow and a shallow painful labored breathing, muscle spasticity, dry mouth, constipation, and intestinal spasms. The addicted also experiences drowsiness and disorientation most of the time.

As the urge of more dosage increases, the addicts' social and economic life gets disoriented. They no longer concentrate in their jobs, are often late and withdrawn. In a matter of time, they lose their job. Their dependents suffer the most. In order to get money to buy the drugs, the addicts resort to criminal behaviors including stealing.

The initial phases of withdrawal and treatment process is characterized with hot and cold flashes, the goose bumps, anxiety, restlessness, tremor, muscle spasms, bone and muscle pain, fever, vomiting, insomnia, and diarrhea. The treatment programs usually integrate the medication (pharmacological) methods such as detoxification using methadone or buprenorphine and the behavioral therapies like the cognitive management approach and the cognitive-behavioral therapy all which target to monitor and restore the patient to their normal life without the addiction problems.




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