Transcript document
Chapter 8 Narcotics Historical Perspectives The term narcotics is from the Greek word meaning stupor. Throughout history, opium figured prominently in: Wars, economic vitality of countries, medicine, and in the work of lyricists & authors 1800s Opium plentiful in the United States mainly due to more than 70,000 Chinese workers coming to the United States to build railroads With the influx of Chinese workers came a penchant for smoking opium Morphine use escalated during the 19th century Used to relieve pain, diarrhea, and dysentery Historical Perspectives Civil War soldiers routinely injected themselves with morphine and thousands became addicted. Laudanum was widely sold. By the late 1800s, an estimated 4.59 per 1,000 people were dependent on opiates. In 1914 the Harrison Act was passed regulating narcotic use. Historical Perspectives During the 1930s morphine abuse exceeded heroin abuse in the United States: By the following decade, heroin addiction was greater Extent of Narcotic Use According to government estimates in 2006, 338,000 Americans had used heroin in the previous month. In the United States, more than 800,000 people are addicted to heroin and other narcotics. Opioid-Related Drug Misuse Deaths Characteristics of Narcotics Opiates refers to a family of drugs with characteristics similar to opium Opiate and opioid are terms used interchangeably They may be natural or synthetic Characteristics of Narcotics Crude opium is found in the Papaver somniferum. Morphine and codeine are natural products of crude opium. Heroin Semi-synthetic (di-acetyl morphine) Synthetic Opiates Chemically constructed rather than naturally produced An example is fentanyl a powerful opiate stronger than heroin Synthetic Opiates Other synthetic opiates include: Meperidine (Demerol) Propoxyphene hydrochloride (Darvon) Methadone Oxycontin is a strong opioid that offers longlasting pain relief Popular in Appalachia and has been referred to as “hillbilly heroin” Physical Effects of Opiates Opiates mimic endorphins in the brain. Physical Effects: Drowsiness Vomiting Nausea Difficulty concentrating Psychological effects of Opiates Psychological effects: Relief of anxiety Hostility Feelings of inadequacy Aggression Dependency Physical dependence, psychological dependence, and tolerance develop quickly. Withdrawal symptoms can include: Diarrhea Insomnia Muscle aches and pains Dysphoria Anxiety Stomach cramps Toxicity Narcotics are capable of depressing the respiratory system to the point of death. Death from an overdose of heroin is slow. People who die quickly from an overdose are likely to die from anaphylactic shock. Medical Benefits Analgesia Gastrointestinal difficulties Cough suppressant Treatment Detoxification: gradual withdrawal from narcotics use Drugs such as clonidine, naltrexone, naloxone, and methadone Naloxone and Naltrexone: narcotic antagonists Negates the effects of heroin Methadone Has been the drug used most frequently to treat heroin addiction since 1960 Blocks the craving for opiates Methadone has been viewed as substituting one narcotic for another. The life of a methadone patient is not easy. Advantages of Methadone maintenance Can be orally administered Easy to monitor Eliminates the need for needles Reduces risk of overdosing levo-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM) In 1993 the FDA approved an alternative to methadone called levo-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM). A long-acting drug that can block the withdrawal symptoms from narcotics for up to 3 days. Narcotics Anonymous Modeled on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a self-help group which strives to help people who are addicted to heroin and other narcotics stay clean and sober. Summary The term narcotics is from a Greek word meaning “stupor”. Opiates refers to a family of drugs with characteristics similar to opium. Morphine is a natural component of crude opium. Heroin is a semi-synthetic drug made from morphine. Summary There are medical benefits to narcotics. Narcotics are highly addicting. Oxycontin is a time-released narcotic. Methadone maintenance is an option for heroin rehabilitation. Narcotics Anonymous is a support group helping narcotics to remain clean and sober.