Opiate Addiction
Opiates have been used for centuries to treat pain. Though opiates were intended for use in medical environments but they quickly gained popularity among recreational drug users, and created opiate addiction. They are now some of the most commonly abused drugs in the world.
Opiates that are used for pain management in the medical field are morphine and codeine, but opiates also contain opium and heroin, as well as some synthetic opiates. Synthetic opiates treat pain and treat people who are addicted to opiates.
Big Costs
In the U.S., illegal opiate use costs taxpayers in excess of $400 billion annually.
Approximately 2.5 million opiate users over the age of 12 in this country. Health care costs, traffic accidents, criminal justice system expenses and crimes committed by addicts all contribute to the escalating costs that Americans wind up being responsible for.
Opiate addiction brings people to a point where they can no longer capable of holding down a job, and lose any health insurance coverage that they had. The diseases or conditions that develop in addicts as a result of their drug use are often paid for through public funds because the addicts cannot pay for their own treatment.
Opiate Addiction Definition
It is believed that opiate addiction is a disorder of the nervous system that develops from opiate addiction and opiate abuse. With continuous opiate use endorphins stop working like they are supposed to. The body stops producing endorphins altogether, with severe opiate abuse, because it is used to receiving opiates.
Nerve cells gradually become degenerated, with severe opiate addiction. High tolerance will occur and constant need for he opiate. After a while the addiction becomes a constant need to prevent the withdraw symptoms from happening.
Professional opiate detox is recommended.
