An Effective Solution for Managing Chronic Pain Essay

What was once an effective solution for managing chronic pain has become one of the most commonly abused substances in our society, causing the need for a monitored and effective plan for treating chemically dependent individuals and their addiction to opiate’s. Ghodse (2012) stated that addiction to opiates is disease-causing malfunctions of the brain; it has effects on the mind and body requiring a specific medication in the treatment plan, and is recognized as being the most effective. Deaths should only occur from old age; that’s not the case now days and it’s because of this horrible addiction. It’s one of the risks taken from abusing opioids. It’s gotten so bad teenagers are dying from it. Are opiates worth giving your life to? No drug is worth my life! For those that feel it’s impossible to stop, ask a doctor about buprenorphine. It’s what doctor’s use for treating this addiction and acts as an opioid receptor in the brain (Ghodse, 2012). An Effective Solution for Managing Chronic Pain Essay. Yeah it’s great there’s a solution to help stop substance abuse, but never using is a lot more effective for your life. Shoenfeld (2012) made it clear that once you start abusing opiates, most require treatment in order to stop Opiates are a group of narcotics that contain opium or natural synthetic opium (Shoenfeld, 2012). Some of the commonly abused opiates include: Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Heroin, Codeine, Morphine, and Methadone as well as many other pain medications. They can be crushed and snorted, taken orally, and even injected. The most restrictive legally available drugs are the opiates Methadone and Morphine (Shoenfeld, 2012). They are prescribed for severe pain. Individuals can be prescribed methadone as an option for treatment but in reality is highly addictive and commonly abused. Addiction has no limits and doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care who you are, where you’re from, or what your life actually has in store for you, just as long as you let it in; once you do, it will take over you and everything from you. Men and women of all ages, shapes, sizes, and race can be and are addicted to these drugs. Even professional businessmen have been prescribed these medications and after some time turned into an addict, losing everything they have including their home, spouse, and job. That is one of the risks from long term use. Abusing prescription drugs has become a concern with today’s teenager. Most of them have access to these medications by opening their own medicine cabinet. It starts with social using that turns into everyday use.An Effective Solution for Managing Chronic Pain Essay.  This happens because they find themselves liking the feeling they get from the drug. Before long, extreme measures are being taken just for them to get it. Most people that abuse drugs use becomes it helps them escape reality. If they are having a bad day, the opiate will make it better. Another big reason people become addicts is because the drug helps them block a bad experience or tragedy from the past, commonly in women that were raped or abused as a young child or teenager. Some people have turned into full blown addicts while unaware it’s even happening. Everyday use after even a few weeks can cause the body to be physically dependent. The body gets used to the drug in its system and when it suddenly isn’t there, the body starts to have withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms could be nausea, aches and pains, sweats, diarrhea, and even vomiting. Long term use of any opiate is extremely dangerous. It causes harmful health risks to the body. It can cause breathing problems, depression, fertility issues in women, kidney problems, seizures, heart problems and even death. One of the main effects from abusing opiates is function of the brain. It affects ones motivation and emotions. It causes change in synapses and shapes of brain cells (Wolters, 2012). Chronic use is linked with structural changes and the size and shape of specific neurons (Wolters, 2012). That is how doctors can tell the difference between a chronic opiate user and an occasional user. What was once an effective solution for managing chronic pain has become one of the most commonly abused substances in our society, causing the need for a monitored and effective plan for treating chemically dependent individuals and their addiction to opiate’s. Ghodse (2012) stated that addiction to opiates is a disease causing malfunctions of the brain; it has effects on the mind and body requiring a specific medication in the treatment plan, and is recognized as being the most effective. Deaths should only occur from old age; that’s not the case now days and it’s because of this horrible addiction. It’s one of the risks taken from abusing opioids. An Effective Solution for Managing Chronic Pain Essay. It’s gotten so bad teenagers are dying from it. Are opiates worth giving your life to? No drug is worth my life! For those that feel it’s impossible to stop, ask a doctor about buprenorphine. It’s what doctor’s use for treating this addiction and acts as an opioid receptor in the brain (Ghodse, 2012).