Opioid Essay

People who are addicted to opioids experience negative mental and physical effects that include nausea, weakened immune system, a lowered breathing rate and worst case, coma (Prashad 2017). Since opioid effects the immune system, individuals have an increased risk of developing HIV or any infectious deadly disease. The risk does not end there, effects of opioids also includes, hallucinations, clogged blood vessels and the risk of choking (Prashad 2017). Having a child, parent, friend or any loved

effects of long-term opioid use for noncancer related chronic pain treatment. Data was collected through article searches which located 43 articles with data for increased adverse effects of opioid use. The data was then integrated to identify the most significant perilous effect by organ system. Study findings identified increased risk for the gastrointestinal, respiratory, cardiovascular, central nervous, musculoskeletal, endocrine and immune systems associated with long term opioid use. The possible

Although opiates can relieve pain and improve quality of life temporarily, the opioid epidemic is becoming a widespread problem all over the United States. Opioids are drugs acting on the nervous system to relieve, but continued use can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal systems leading to opioid abuse. This includes codeine, morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl used daily by healthcare professionals. We need to realize that this is a more difficult problem to address if no one understands how it

Opioids and Drug Addiction What Are Opioids? Drugs that act on the nervous system to relieve pain Chemically related and interact with opioid receptors on nerve cells in the body and brain When an opioid interacts with opioid receptors, dopamine is released the brain interprets this as a positive experience Pain is dulled or goes away all together Safe for short term use when prescribed by a doctor Since they produce a euphoria as well as pain relief, they can be easily misused Cause drowsiness

Opioids are drugs that act on the nervous system to relieve pain. Using them continuously and abusing can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms. They come in different forms such as tablets, capsules and even liquid. Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone , hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, and many other drugs that are similar. All of these drugs are

1. Opioids • “Opioids are a class of drugs made from opium, as well as synthetic or semi-synthetic drugs that resemble these opium-based drugs.” 2. What are opioids used for in the current situation • Opioids are Used as a prescription pain killer 3. good effects of opioids • Blinds pain • Gives a feeling of pleasure 4. how do opioids relieve pain? • “Opioids stimulate the release of "euphoric" chemicals in the brain.” 5. Opioid problems • Addiction • Opioids blind the pain of the injury but

drugs such as; painkiller, oxycodone, codeine, hydrocodone, fentanyl, morphine, epidemic and heroin can cause opioid addiction. People who are addicted to drugs can and will create long term damage to their body, which can bring medical issues, including lung or cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer or AID’s. American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) researcher stated, “That opioids chemical causes the brain and nerve cells to produce pleasurable effects and relieve pain.” (Nora D. Volkow, 2014)

Opioid abuse has become so widespread in Baltimore that on March 1, 2017, the governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, declared a state of emergency. The rise in the number of opioid-related overdoses in the Baltimore have skyrocketed in the past few years. According to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 1089 people, a majority from Baltimore, died of a fentanyl overdose in 2015. In 2016, the number rose to 1856 deaths. (Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene 14). The spike

to stop the consumption of the drugs they use. If we condone the consumption of opioids in public hospitals I believe it will lead people to interpret this drug as a safe thing to use. “Safe Injection Sites” are not a valid response to the opioid epidemic because they will not help addicts, which in turn causes brain damage, death, and sanitary hazards for U.S. citizens. These sites will not help addicts leave opioids behind because they will still be administered the drugs by a trained physician

As we see the further progression of the opioid epidemic within the United States, pharmacists become the frontlines to recognizing and providing care for these patients. It is however difficult to provide care for a patient when even the professionals within the medical community have an associated stigma attached to the use of these drugs. Patients who have a need for these painkillers recognize this stigma, and by doing so decide to avoid consulting their doctors and do not seek the care which