The Effects Of Narcotic Abuse On The Society

The United States currently faces an unprecedented epidemic of opioid addiction. This includes painkillers, heroin, and other drugs made from the same base chemical. In the couple of years, approximately one out of twenty Americans reported misuse or abuse of prescriptions painkillers. Heroin abuse and overdoses are on the rise and are the leading cause of injury deaths, surpassing car accidents and gun shots. The current problem differs from the opioid addiction outbreaks of the past in that it is also predominant in the middle and affluent classes. Ultimately, anyone can be fighting a battle with addiction and it is important for family members and loved ones to know the signs. The cause for this epidemic is that the current spike of opioid abuse can be traced to two decades of increased prescription rates for painkillers by well-meaning physicians.

The reason that this drug can be so intense and dangerous is because it falls into the category II narcotics. Many commonly known narcotics include opium, morphine, and heroin. The addiction rate of any of these drugs is phenomenal. Narcotics are central nervous system depressants that relieve pain without causing the loss of consciousness. They can also produce feelings drowsiness, mental confusion and euphoria. The analgesic effects of narcotics result from the drugs’ effects on the emotional aspects of pain. Many patients that experience intense pain say that after the administration of the narcotic, their pain is as intense as ever but no longer as bothersome. Because narcotics block the emotional side effects of pain they make it much more bearable.

Addiction is complex and is often misunderstood; However, many individuals and medical professionals are now referring to addiction as a disease, not just a poor decision that is made by an individual. Addiction is a problem that spirals out of control and has the potential to absorb every thought and action while wreaking havoc on the body. According to Narcotics Anonymous, “...it is our fellowship's collective experience and understanding that addiction is, in fact, a disease. (What is Addiction?, NA, 2015)”

As a police officer, I am constantly exposed to the effects of drug addiction, specifically America's opioid crisis. Furthermore, I find myself pondering why someone is willing to inject a narcotic such as heroin knowing that it may be laced with a lethal dose of fentanyl. Consequently, the biology of an addict's brain becomes altered through repeated drug use, and narcotics such as heroin mimic natural occurrences within the brain permitting the attachment and activation of neurons (National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 2014). Additionally, some illicit drugs can evaluate dopamine levels as much as ten times the normal amount produced naturally by acts such as eating or sex, which causes addicts to seek the instant and prolonged effects of narcotics (NIDA, 2014). Since we are now aware of why addicts continue to abuse opioids, let us examine some of the statistics beginning with death totals.

Opioid and heroin overdose has increase significantly and continue to be a major public health issue nation-wide. With the continues growing of drug overdose, despite opioid harm reduction strategies

There are three types of prescribed abused drugs: opioids, depressants, and stimulants. The most powerful is opioids. Opioids are used to block out pain. Some of these include opanas, oxycontin, and roxicodone, and 5.1 million Americans abuse them regularly (Drugabuse.gov). Some of those pills can cost any where from five dollars a pill all the way up to ninety dollars a pill (Drugs a-z) and could even cost more than that depending on where you live. Some of the street names can be roxy, o.p.s, oxy, and captain coden(Drug abuse.gov). ´“At the age of 20, I became an addict to a narcotic,which began with a prescription following a surgery.¨´-James. People normally become addicted to painkillers because of doctor giving them prescriptions after a major surgery.

In today’s busy lifestyle world, there has been a number of rising cases of drug abuse. Illicit use of Opiates, especially heroin has dominated most parts of the world According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), in 2012 about 669,000 Americans reported using heroin in the past year of 2012. (1.)

With the advances in medicine made within the last century, we can treat pain at various levels better than ever before. Whether it’s minor pain such as a headache, or more severe pain from injury or post-surgery, narcotic pain medication has been beneficial for relieving the feeling of pain in people a host of ailments. It can help many people go through day-by-day life better than they might have otherwise without the medication. Despite the benefits of relieving pain that various narcotic pain medications can have, there are also some drawbacks. The narcotics can also have addictive qualities which can lead to problems that can result in turning a person into an addict; and could also lead to overdosing or death. Are doctors over-prescribing

Narcotics are an opioid pain reliever that helps the patient feel less pain being making them feel drowsiness. When used illegally it will make your moods change drastically and might even lead to hallucinations. In America alone “Nearly 10% of the american population is addicted to narcotics”(Narcotic Facts). They want to be in a euphoria state a mind when they feel the pain or many of them turn to their prescribed dosage to feel less lonely. Narcotics provide an illusion to the consumer making them want to feel that high again. Although many people believe that illegal drugs are more addictive, studies have shown that more people die of narcotic overdose. To prevent this doctors need a different method when prescribing narcotics and be coutious

The most dangerous opiate there is, heroin is a potent and quick hitting drug that poses many risks to living an enjoyable life. Opiates like morphine are substances with qualities similar to opium, which derives from the poppy plant. To understand how tempting a painkiller like this might sound to the oblivious person, it is important to know what type of effects that using heroin will bring about. New users typically start by smoking or sniffing it, but like many opiates, developing a tolerance, becoming psychologically dependent, and eventual withdrawal symptoms are expected, leading to heavy usage within months. Annual mortality rates of heroin users are rising at two percent, but treatments are accessible (Andrew Wickens, 2009). A deadly drug indeed, so how does it manage to ruin so many lives year by year? Likewise, when heroin enters the body, it turns into morphine and when it reaches the brain, it binds to mu-opioid receptors (MORs) (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2016). These receptors stimulate the release of dopamine along the reward pathway of the brain, thus creating the mind-numbing euphoria and relaxed state, until the user acknowledges the impact and detriment that heroin use can have on the nervous system and overall life expectancy.

Drug abuse, or substance abuse, is a serious problem that many people mistakenly suffer from. It affects the abuser’s day-to-day life simply because the abuser needs their “fix”. Millions of illnesses and injuries are caused by drug abuse each year, and because of that many lose their lives. There are many drugs that are abused today, but the mains ones such as cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, meth and even prescription drugs are what is plaguing the streets and the homes of millions of Americans.

There are three major types of prescribed medications; painkillers (opiates), tranquilizers, and stimulants (NIDA). This paper will be focused on prescribed painkillers because they are the most dangerous of the Rx drugs. Prescribed opiate drugs have become a major issue. In 2011 a study found that “overdoses involving prescription painkillers are at epidemic levels and now kill more Americans than heroin and cocaine combined” (CDC). This statistic helps show how Rx drugs can be worse than illicit street drugs. This is because Rx drugs get people hooked just like street drugs do. Once a person is hooked and begins to abuse these drugs, he or she may die due to drug overdose. Prescribed drugs provide the “feeling good” sensation and give the individual that “high” feeling because the endorphins in the opiate drug provide that artificial feeling. It's the same felling a street addict gets from illicit drugs. The only difference is that one received their drugs legally from a doctor while the other got them off the street. Over time the body realizes that it doesn't need to produce its own endorphins. When an individual wants to quit using these drugs, they can't because the body is now depending on receiving these chemicals externally and not from its own body. This causes severe withdrawal symptoms. This doesn't only occur to the drug abuser, but a baby after birth also suffers from withdrawal symptoms if the mother abused Rx opiate

The first thing you should know about the word (narcotic) is that it is used illegally more than it used legally. One good, fast way to tell whether somebody certainly knows anything about this subject is to listen to their use of this word. When they tell you that marijuana, cocaine, and meth are "narcotics" then count them among the vast legions of totally clueless people on this subject. The word "narcotic" comes from the Greek word "narkos", meaning sleep. Therefore, "narcotics" are drugs that induce sleep. Specifically, that means the opiates such as heroin, morphine and related drugs. This is the correct meaning, so you should accept no

Substance abuse is not abnormal in many countries including the United States of America. In fact, about 700 billion dollars are lost every year due to crime related to the substance, lost work productivity, and health care. Billions more are spent preventing drug use and treating addicts. Although substance abuse may threaten many societies, the impact can be cushioned for the future generations of America with the almighty tool of education. Addiction is a topic I recently learned more about in Health class and it will impact my future choices.

Opium poppies are one of key ingredients in making prescription painkillers. Analgesic drugs range from acetaminophen, anti-inflammatory drugs, morphine and oxycodone. Each one of these medications have a different potency, but act as pain relievers. Depending on seriousness of an induvial pain will decides which painkiller is most appropriate for the person. Some painkillers are also more addicting than others and are more likely to be abused by drug seeing users. Addiction to painkillers has been a problem for thousands of years and has recently been getting more attention thanks to social media and the recent overdoses highlighted by the news. Analgesic have great benefits for someone going through pain, but taking painkillers can come a price. It is important to note that prescription Opiates can equate to street cocaine or heroin. Prescription painkillers have negatively affected America by leading to addictions, overdoses and death.