Transcript Opiate and Opioid Addiction

Opiate and Opioid
Addiction
By: Paul Purrazzella
11/10/08
What are Opiate’s and an Opioid’s?
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The word “Opiate” is a broad category
that all of the different forms of Heroin
fall under.
An Opioid is any type of narcotic
painkiller (Mostly in this case
OxyContin).
Similarities
Heroin and OxyContin are very similar
in a sense of how the drug affects people.
Both of these drugs have almost the same
affects and after affects on people when
they are used in certain ways.
What is Heroin?
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Heroin is a highly illegal street drug that
is made from a natural substance taken
from the seed pod of various poppy
plants.
When Heroin is used, it affects the
central nervous system, in the brain
and along the spinal cord. It stimulates
certain opioid receptors in these areas,
and pain relief will take place.
What is OxyContin?
OxyContin is a pill that is prescribed for
chronic pain. This pill has a 12-hour time
release. When the time release is compromised
the user can receive 12 hours of medication all
at once, making this drug popular in the streets.
Due to its popularity among abusers, and drug
dealers, OxyContin is now on the Government
Controlled Substance List, making it illegal for
anyone to posses without a prescription.
What does Heroin and OxyContin
look like?
Heroin is mostly found in powder form,
colors ranging from dark brown to white.
Sometimes it also comes in black stick
substance known as “Black Tar Heroin”.
 OxyContin comes in pill forms ranging in
dosages. This medication comes in
10,20,40,and 80mg.
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How are they used?
Heroin and Oxycontin are used in mostly
the same ways. Both substances
reportedly are administered by injection,
smoking, or snorting. When OxyContin is
used in these ways its time release is
compromised and the drug becomes
dangerously powerful along side with
Heroin.
Short-Term Affects of Heroin
Abuse.
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Heroin can cause many short term affects
that will appear shortly after the initial use of the
drug. These affects consist of:
A “rush” accompanied by a warm sensation
Dry mouth
Heavy extremities
Slowed and/or slurred speech
Small sized pupils
Vomiting
Constipation
Short-Term Affects of OxyContin
Abuse.
As dosages of pain killer’s get higher, the Short and
Long-term affects start looking like those of Heroin.
OxyContin is one of the only Narcotic’s that has high
enough dosages to even compare.
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Constipation
Nausea
Vomiting
Dry mouth
Constricted pupils,
Drowsiness
Long-Term Affects of Heroin
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Heroin has many long term affects, some of
which can be fatal. Chronic users can develop:
Collapsed veins
Infection of the heart lining and valves
Abscesses
Liver disease
Addiction
Arthritis
Bacterial Infections
Built up Tolerance
Long-Term Affects of OxyContin
The Prescription Narcotic known as
OxyContin has long term affects on a
users body that are the same as Heroin.
There are a range of negative health
consequences associated with OxyContin
abuse. Users will build up a tolerance to
this drug as well. The bigger the dosage
taken in one use, and if taken repeatedly,
addiction and symptoms of withdrawals,
long and short-term affects will get worse.
What is Withdrawal?
Withdrawal takes place after an abuser of
either Heroin or Oxycontin does not have this
substance in their body. In order for a user to
experience the symptoms of withdrawal some sort
of tolerance and addiction must be present within
the person. This means that the users body has
been so used to having these drugs in them, that
when they are taking away you and your body do
not function properly. The higher the tolerance and
addiction the worse the withdrawal symptoms will
be.
Withdrawal Symptoms
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Withdrawal symptoms, on average last around 6-7
days. After the first 48 hours the next 4-5 days is when
the symptoms start to peak. Someone experiencing a
withdrawal might experience:
Restlessness
Muscle and bone pain
Insomnia
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Cold flashes (“cold turkey”)
Involuntary leg movements.
How does OxyContin fall into the
wrong hands?
Unlawful sale from legal to illegal holders
(usually physicians or pharmacists)
 “Doctor Shopping” (When one person
goes to numerous different doctors to
obtain multiple prescriptions)
 Theft from legal obtainers
 Thefts of institutional drug supplies by
health-care workers.
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How can Abusers be helped?
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Abusers can be checked into either a
rehabilitation center, or a detoxification center,
and they not experience the withdrawal
symptoms after you are giving certain
substances.
Abusers can also go to their doctor, tell he/she
the problem, and he/she will most likely
prescribe a drug called Suboxone. This drug
was invented to block any opiate or opioid if
used by someone.
Just go through with a withdrawal until its over.
Works Cited
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Chen, Albert. “A SCARY LITTLE PILL”, Sports Illustrated: 12/20/2004, Vol.
101 Issue 24, p80, 1/2p, 1 color
Nora D.Volkow, M.D. “Prescription Drugs Abuse and Addiction”, National
Institute on Drug Abuse Research Report Series, p1-12, August, 2005
Nora D.Volkow, M.D. “Heroin Abuse and Addiction”, National Institute on
Drug Abuse Research Report Series, p1-8, May, 2005
Inciardi, James A.; Goode, Jennifer L. “Oxycontin and Prescription Drug
Abuse”, Consumers’ Research Magazine, July 2003, Vol. 86, Issue 7, p17,
5p, 1 bw
Dr. Werner Scholz. “What is Oxycontin”, How Stuff Works,
http://health.howstuffworks.com/oxycontin,htm, A Discovery Channel
Company.
Walsh, Sharon L.; Nuzzo, Paul A.; Lofwall, Michelle R.; Holtman, Joseph R.
“The relative abuse liability of oral oxycodone, hydrocodone and
hydromorphone assessed in prescription opioid abusers.”, Drug & Alcohol
Dependence, Dec 2008, Vol.98