Narcotic Abuse
GENERAL INFORMATION:
What are narcotics?
- Narcotics (nahr-KOT-ics) are a type of medicine that is used to decrease or take away severe (very bad) pain. Narcotics may also be called opioids (OH-pe-oids). Some common names of narcotics ordered by a doctor (prescription) are codeine and morphine. Heroin is an illegal narcotic (street drug) in the United States that is made from morphine. Codeine is used as a painkiller, and is also found in some cough medicines.
- All narcotics may cause constipation (kon-sti-PAY-shun). Constipation is a condition where you have hard, dry stools, which are difficult to pass, less often than usual.
How do narcotics work? Pain receptors are found in your brain. Pain receptors receive messages about pain from the nerves in your body. When the message arrives, you are aware that you are having pain. Narcotics work by stopping you from getting the message that you are having pain.
What is narcotic abuse? Narcotic abuse is when you continue to use narcotics, even though they are hurting you or others. Examples include the following ongoing or repeated problems:
- You are unable to do your job, attend school, or do necessary things at home, such as care for your children.
- You drive a vehicle or operate machinery while feeling the effects of narcotics, making the situation dangerous.
- You have legal problems related to using narcotics, such as being arrested while feeling the effects of the drug.
- You have ongoing or repeated problems with your friends, family, or others. These problems are caused or made worse by using narcotics.
What is narcotic dependence? Dependence on narcotics is when a pattern of using the drugs leads to at least three of the following problems during one year:
- Tolerance. Tolerance means that you need more narcotics to feel the way that you want to feel. You may get fewer effects from the narcotic, even though you are using the same amount of it.
- Withdrawal. You may have certain signs and symptoms if you stop using narcotics after using them heavily over a period of time. Withdrawal problems may also happen if after taking narcotics, your doctor has you take different medicine to replace the narcotic.
- Using a similar drug to reduce or avoid the signs and symptoms of withdrawal.
- Using more narcotics than you first wanted to. You may use more, or use it over a longer time than you first wanted to.
- Being unable to decrease or control your use of narcotics. You may want narcotics all of the time. You may feel it is not possible to decrease or control the amount of drugs you are using.
- Much of your time is spent using narcotics, or managing a hangover after using the drug. "Hangover" is a word used for how you feel hours after using a drug. You may feel very tired and sick to your stomach.
- You spend less time around others, at work, or doing activities that you enjoy. You may spend most or all of your time using or searching for narcotics.
- Even with a physical or mental condition that gets worse when using narcotics, you keep using the drug. For example, after using narcotics, you may get depressed (very sad). Even though you know this will happen, you keep using narcotics.
What is withdrawal? Signs and symptoms of withdrawal occur if you stop using narcotics after using them heavily over a period of time. They may also happen if after taking narcotics, your doctor has you take different medicine to replace the narcotic. Signs and symptoms may begin within minutes or days, and continue for days, or even months. If you are in withdrawal, you will have three or more of the following signs and symptoms:
- Feelings of deep sadness and anxiety.
- Feeling sick to your stomach, or throwing up.
- Muscle aches.
- Watery eyes or runny nose.
- The pupils of your eyes become very large. (Your pupil is the black circle in the middle of your eye.) You may sweat, or have "goose-bumps" on your skin.
- Diarrhea (loose, watery bowel movements).
- Yawning.
- Higher than normal body temperature (fever).
- Being unable to sleep.
What is narcotic intoxication? Narcotic intoxication (in-tok-si-KAY-shun) usually lasts for several hours. Although narcotic intoxication can go away, severe (very bad) intoxication can kill you. Caregivers will look at the following to decide if you have narcotic intoxication:
- The condition occurs right after using a narcotic.
- During use of, or right after using the substance you have abnormal behavior, or mood changes. This includes a great feeling of well being, followed by feeling like you don't care about anyone or anything. It also includes trouble making decisions, or a slowdown of your thinking and ability to do things.
- Your pupils may shrink very small, or grow very large. You may also have one or more of the following signs, which happen during or shortly after using the drug:
- Sleepiness, or coma (a state of deep sleep from which you cannot be woken, even with pain). While in a coma, you may have machines breathing for you, and you may die.
- Slurred speech
- Problems with your ability to pay attention to one thing, or remember things.
- Sleepiness, or coma (a state of deep sleep from which you cannot be woken, even with pain). While in a coma, you may have machines breathing for you, and you may die.
- These signs and symptoms are not caused by another physical or mental condition.
What are the risks of taking illegal (street) narcotics?
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and hepatitis B and C are serious diseases that may be spread through blood. Used needles, syringes and other "works" (supplies) to inject narcotics may cause one or more of these diseases.
- Street narcotics may be "cut" (mixed) with things like talcum powder, baking soda, or poisons. If there are lumps that do not melt when mixed with water, the lumps may get stuck in your veins and cause infections or clots. Clots can travel to your heart, lungs, or brain and may kill you.
- If you get "pure" (unmixed) heroin you may overdose, and die.
- If you "skin-pop" (inject just under skin), you may get an infection from dirty needles, or other works.
- Snorting or sniffing heroin may make a hole in the cartilage that separates the two sides of your nose.
- Black tar heroin may contain botulism (BOT-u-liz-um). This is a type of poison that can make you very sick, or even kill you.
What harm can narcotics do to a pregnant woman and her baby?
- If you are trying to get pregnant, or are pregnant, and are using narcotics, tell your caregiver right away. Your doctor may suggest other medicines to control pain, and prevent withdrawal from the narcotic. If you go through withdrawal while pregnant, you may miscarry (lose) your baby. Women who take street narcotics or overdose when they are pregnant may miscarry the baby. They also risk having a stillborn baby (not born alive), or having a baby that is very small, and has other medical problems.
- Street narcotics are dangerous for you and your baby. Babies born to women that have used narcotics while pregnant may show signs of withdrawal. This includes unexpected weight loss, poor feeding, and more crying than what is expected or normal. Your baby may also have a high body temperature (fever), throw up, and have diarrhea. Learning problems and other issues with your child may also be seen as he grows. If you have a baby and are using narcotics (street drugs or prescribed) you may have trouble caring for your baby. Narcotics may be present in breast milk. Talk to your caregiver before breast feeding your baby if you are using narcotics.
How will I know if my child is taking narcotics? You may see one or more of the following signs and symptoms if your child is using narcotics:
- Decreasing grades, or decreased attendance at school.
- You may have more trouble trying to manage (discipline) your child.
- Your child may begin to borrow money from parents, sisters and brothers, or friends. He may also begin to steal small items.
- Your child may begin to wear sunglasses a lot, even at night. He may also wear long sleeved shirts even when it is hot.
- Your child may have sudden angry outbreaks.
- Your child may stop taking care of his hair and clothes. He may begin to look sloppy.
- Your child may suddenly get secretive about his activities. He may also want to keep you from going in his room, or through his things.
- Your child's attitude may change. He may change from being helpful and upbeat most of the time, to being angry and downbeat.
- Your child's friends may change. His new friends may be known as drug users.
What can you do if you want to stop abusing narcotics? Caregivers with special training in addiction medicine or pain management may be able to help you stop taking narcotics. There are several ways to stop using narcotics. Most methods will help ease, or even avoid symptoms of withdrawal. Caregivers may give you a different drug to use that replaces your need for narcotics. There are many programs available to help you stop abusing narcotics. You may be treated in the hospital, or as an outpatient. Contact the following organizations for more information:
- American Academy of Pain Management
13947 Mono Way #A
Sonora, CA 95370
Phone: 1-209-533-9744
Web Address: www.aapainmanage.org
- American Pain Society
4700 W. Lake Avenue
Glenview, IL 60025
Phone: 1-847-375-4715
Web Address: http://www.ampainsoc.org
CARE AGREEMENT:
You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.
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