What are Opiates
Opiates are a group of drugs that are used for treating pain. They are derived from opium which comes from the poppy plant. Opiates go by a variety of names including opiates, opioids, and narcotics.
The term opiates is sometimes used for close relatives of opium such as codeine, morphine and heroin, while the term opioids is used for the entire class of drugs including synthetic opiates such as Oxycontin. But the most commonly used term is opiates.
Opiate Addiction
Opiates produce a sense of wellbeing or euphoria that can be addictive to some people. Opiates are legitimately used for treating pain. When used for pain relief, many people develop tolerance, meaning they need more and more to get the same effect. Some people go on to develop an addiction to opiates. They begin to obsessively think about getting more opiates and in some cases engage in illegal activities such as double doctoring.
A high dose of opiates can cause death from cardiac or respiratory arrest. Tolerance to the euphoric effect of opiates develops faster than tolerance to the dangerous effects. Therefore people often overdose by mistake because they are trying to get a higher high and take too much.
Opiates: A Natural Pain Remedy
Opiates are alkaloids derived from the opium poppy. Opium is a strong pain relieving medication, and a number of drugs are also made from this source.
Types Of Opiates
Morphine
Codeine
Heroin
Opium
Opiate Withdrawal
Opiate withdrawal can be extremely uncomfortable. The important thing to remember is that opiate withdrawal is not life threatening if you are withdrawing only from opiates and not a combination of drugs.
Opiate withdrawal symptoms include:
Low energy, Irritability, Anxiety, Agitation, Insomnia
Runny nose, Teary eyes
Hot and cold sweats, Goose bumps
Yawning
Muscle aches and pains
Abdominal cramping, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
