Opioid Addiction Case Study

Addictions are a diverse set of common and complex diseases that are to some extent tied together by shared genetic and environmental factors. Addiction includes alcohol use disorders, cannabis and cocaine use disorders, nicotine dependence, as well as non-substance–related behaviors. Both genetic and environmental variables contribute to the use and abuse of addictive substances, which may eventually lead to addiction.

Although the collection of findings from several types of genetically informative research designs does provide compelling evidence for the influence of genetics and heritability on the risk for addiction, they do

Opiate addiction can cause many negative changes in the brain. This leads to the structure and functioning of the brain to perform lower than usual. As a result of constant consumption of the opiate medications, addicts lose most of their ability to cope with pain naturally without taking use of pain medication (Torres, 2014). This low tolerance of pain leads to the addict experiencing a higher level of pain since they consistently have high levels of opiates in their system (Torres, 2014). Opiates have the ability to produce withdrawal symptoms in a few hours after the last dose (Opiate Withdrawal Timelines, Symptoms and

By attaching to opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and other areas of the body they reduce the sending of pain messages to the brain and reduce feelings of pain. The part of the brain that controls emotions are also changed and cause a person to feel relaxed and extremely happy, a euphoric state of being. This is when a person starts to crave the drug, the brain is saying it wants more. Natural endorphins are produced by a healthy brain on its own. Powerful cravings and physical dependence are due to the brain no longer producing the natural kind of endorphins because after

Nurses today are likely to encounter patients who are intravenous drug users at some point in their career. The United States is in the midst of a rampant heroin/opioid epidemic which currently claims 91 lives a day to overdose (CDC, 2016). As nurses we have a unique opportunity to provide compassionate and impactful health care to the most marginalized groups of our society. Harm Reduction is a public health approach to intravenous drug use/opioid addiction which strives to reduce the harm of risky behaviors associated with illicit drug use. Nurses who implement harm reduction into practice have a powerful opportunity to educate patients on preventing the transmission of disease, vein care, and available resources within the community.

1Executive SummaryTo determine the best way of supplying naloxone (Narcan) to victims of opioid overdoseat Mason Public Schools, I first confirmed that naloxone administration might benecessary on school grounds. By surveying the public, researching news articles, andconducting personal interviews, I have determined that opioids are being useddangerously or illegally by Mason students and visitors to our schools. It is possible thatsomeone will need emergency treatment with naloxone after overdosing on schoolproperty.Local teens and young adults are suffering from opioid addiction. Some studentsexperiment with drugs and end up hooked. Others are prescribed opioid pain medicationand their addiction begins more innocently. Local students have

In 2004, Carol Ward confronted a Manitoba doctor with a photo of her daughter, Lisa Erickson, injecting drugs. She pleaded with the doctor to stop prescribing morphine to her daughter because her daughter was suffering from a drug addiction and did not need opioids. Her daughter died of an overdose at age 32. According to the new data from Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) and provincial regulatory agencies suggest physicians rarely face serious discipline in opioid-related cases, however, many doctors worried since investigations and monitoring has increased (Glauser, 2017). The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario released information that about 84 doctors flagged by the ministry of health for prescribing opioids in

There are too many fronts in this fight…. What happens after we identify potentially problematic providers?

A family member, friend, or other individual who is in a position to assist an individual who is apparently experiencing or at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose, is not subject to criminal prosecution for a violation of section 4731.41 of the Revised Code or criminal prosecution under this chapter if the individual, acting in good faith, does all of the following:

UCF’s College of Medicine was recently recognized by the White House as one of 60 medical schools across the country to pledge to teach students about the dangers of prescribing opioids to patients for pain. The pledge follows President Obama’s public-private efforts to fight the nations epidemic of prescription opioid and heroin abuse, according to a press release from UCF.

Opioid abuse problem sounds like national issue as gun control issue. Gun control issue brings more attention than any other nowadays. On the other hand, Opioid related death often goes silently because it hits individually unlike shooting massacre where several deaths occur simultaneously. As a Michigander, I prioritize more on Opioid problem.

Addiction typically develops when all six factors follow their natural course. These six elements support what I call the “Addiction Jigsaw Puzzle.”

“Opioid dependence is related to the abuse of not only illegal opioid drugs (e.g. heroin),

OPIOID TREATMENT: For patients attempting to detoxify from opioid addiction, methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone are frequently used. They act on the same receptors in the brain as heroin to suppress withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings.

Addiction is defined as a chronic brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. In my opinion, compulsive drug use is a hallmark of addiction, yet a mechanistic understanding of this process has been elusive. Drug use is initiated primarily to obtain the excitatory actions of addictive drugs on brain reward systems. The reward pathway evolved to promote activities that are essential to the survival of the human race as well as other mammals (Bailey 2004). When stimulated by drugs of abuse, addiction often occurs especially in those who are genetically or otherwise “neurochemically” vulnerable