Long And Short Term Effects Of Opiates

Opiates are a group of drugs that are usually derived from the plant P. somniferum, along with many other similar chemicals. Opioids, or synthetic opiates, are often created as pain medicines such as vicodin or oxycontin. All opiates are powerful analgesics and have been used as painkillers for centuries. In addition to their powerful numbing properties, opiates are always at high risk for abuse and are extremely habit forming. Withdrawal from opiate addiction is known as perhaps one of the most painful things a drug addict can experience, and if the user stops abusing a powerful opiate such as heroin abruptly, death can occur.

Short-Term Effects of Opiate Usage

After using a powerful opiate such as heroin, opium, or morphine, users usually feel the euphoric effects of the opiate induced high after a short time, depending on the method of dosing. Decreased reaction to pain, as well as to just about any other external stimuli takes place. Vomiting is not uncommon among heroin users, and blackouts are often experienced by addicts who inject themselves with especially potent heroin.

Opiate users, especially heroin, opium, and morphine addicts, often feel very apathetic to anything taking place around them as long as they have the drug in their system. Opiate addicts will sometimes do anything to attain a high and avoid withdrawal symptoms, which is problematic in itself because tolerance to opiates builds extremely quickly.

Opiate Withdrawal

Four to six hours after an opiate has last been used, users will begin to experience minor withdrawal symptoms, usually in the form of discomfort and extreme desire to get high. If no opiates are introduced the user, more extremely painful withdrawal symptoms can occur after a short period of time. Pain in the muscles and joints will begin to make itself present. Nausea will often set in and cause vomiting, and depending on the nature of the addiction, a user may become extremely constipated or have severe diarrhea. Cold sweats and hot flashes are not uncommon, making the withdrawal even more unbearable. If an opiate addict does not introduce drugs into their system after twelve hours, the withdrawal will become even more painful and possibly deadly.

Withdrawal from opiates may continue for up to three, even four days. After the first 72 hours withdrawal symptoms will reach a devastating peak. Users often gag and vomit uncontrollably and may lose up to twenty pounds over the course of the withdrawal. Body temperature will often rise, and involuntary twitching of the muscles, especially in the legs will occur. The term "kicking the habit" has its roots in opiate withdrawal symptoms.

The introduction of the painkiller oxycontin has been cause for alarm within the past decade. Similar to opiates in many ways, prescription painkillers are often just as addictive as illegal opiates like heroin and opium. Heroin cut with synthetic opiate such as ones commonly found in painkillers has lead to many overdose deaths. Though pharmaceutical companies have tried to separate the medicinal aspect of opiates from the addictive side, almost no breakthroughs have been made and painkillers are being abused more and more often. When an opiate overdose does occur, shallow breathing and cold skin can often lead to a coma which ends the life of the user. Although opiates do provide a temporary high, the risk of addiction is so high that it is better to avoid them altogether. When prescribed powerful painkillers, do not abuse them and make sure you follow your physician's instructions.

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