OPIATES
INTRODUCTION
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What are Opiates?
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Any drug derived from opium.
One of the oldest drugs used by man.
They were used in prehistoric times where teas were
prepared from opium poppies.
Opioids carry the risk of addiction, which is why they are
“scheduled” drugs (Schedule I). They are abused both in
overdoses when prescribed and used outside of
prescriptions to get high, often accompanied with alcohol.
INTRODUCTION CONT.
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All opiates cause a pleasant drowsy state in
which all cares are forgotten, and there is a
decreased sensation of pain.
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Feelings are most intense after injection.
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Opiates affect the release of many hormones
and neurotransmitters, including those
involved in the regulation of sexual behavior.
WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
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Opium farmers cut the developing seed pod of
the opium poppy, and collect the gummy fluid
that oozes out of the cut over the next few days.
 Gum
opium – Sap is dried into a ball and used
directly.
 Opium powder – Sap is dried and pounded into a
powder.
Afghanistan = 90% of all worldwide production. (DEA
2005)
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HOW PEOPLE TAKE OPIATES
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Most opiate drugs enter the bloodstream easily
from many routes because they dissolve in fatty
substances and so can cross into cells.
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Heroin and fentanyl represent one extreme-they
are so fat-soluble that they can be absorbed
across the mucus lining of the nose.
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If opium poppy is heated into a vapor it can be
smoked. “opium pipe” – A pipe designed for the
vaporization and inhalation of opium.
OPIUM PIPE
HOW OPIATES MOVE THROUGH
THE BODY
The rate at which opiates enter the brain depends
on how the user takes them.
 *Fastest way – Inject the drug directly into the
bloodstream.
 The second fastest way is to smoke it.
 When opiates are injected or smoked peak levels
in the brain occur within minutes.
 The faster the buzz the greater the danger of
death by overdose, because drug levels in the
brain can rise so quickly.
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TYPES OF OPIATES
Heroin
 Morphine
 Codeine
 Hydromorphone
 Oxycodone
 Hydrocodone
 Meperidine (Demerol)
 Fentanyl
 Each type has a different type of efficiency…
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HIGH EFFICIENCY
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Heroin
Morphine
Hydromorphone
Meperidine
(Demerol)
Fentanyl
MEDIUM EFFICIENCY
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Hydrocodone
Oxycodone
LOW EFFICENCY
 Codeine
 Propoxyphene
EFFICIENCY OF OPIATE
DRUGS
HEROIN
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Heroin – A white, odorless, bitter crystalline compound,
that is derived from morphine and is a highly addictive
narcotic.
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Heroin is a “downer”, or depressant, which affects the
brain’s pleasure systems and interferes with the brain’s
ability to perceive pain.
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Heroin can be injected (most common), snorted, and
smoked.
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Street names –
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White junk, smack, big H, diesel, dope, poppy, H.
2.4 million Americans have used it in their life.
SHORT-TERM EFFECTS
Appear soon after a single dose, and then
disappear after a few hours.
 After use the user feels a state of “euphoria”.
 After the state of euphoria the user goes “on
the nod”, a wakeful and drowsy state.
 Mental functioning is clouded
 Slowed and slurred speech
 Slower gait (movement/demeanor)
 Constricted pupils
 Drooping eyelids
 Vomiting
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LONG-TERM EFFECTS
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Chronic users develop:
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Collapsed veins
Infection of heart lining and valves
Abscesses
Cellulites
Liver disease
Pulmonary diseases and complications
In addition to the effects of the drug itself, street
heroin may have additives that do not really dissolve
and result in clogging the blood vessels that lead to
the lungs, liver, kidneys, or brain. This can cause
infection or even death of small patches of cells in
vital organs.
MORPHINE
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Used to treat moderate to severe pain.
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Works by dulling the pain perception center in the brain.
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Morphine was first isolated from opium in 1805 by German
pharmacist Wilhelm Serturner.
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Dangerously addicting.
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The name comes from the mythological god Morpheus, who was the
son of sleep and god of dreams.
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Can be taken either orally or injected.
MORPHINE CONT.
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Street names are:
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Dreamer
Miss emma
Morf
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Morphine will not be used post-surgery, only if the
individual was using it prior to the surgery.
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Morphine was given to U.S. medics during WWII.
Medics would administer morphine to soldiers who
were wounded in battle.
MEPERIDINE
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*Meperidine is also known as Demerol.
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Similar to morphine where it dulls the pain perception centers of the
brain.
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Unlike morphine, it can be used post-surgery.
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Demerol is used during labor.
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Usually taken as a pill, but can also be injected.
Can cause cardiac arrest…
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This drug was found in one famous celebrity who passed away in 2009.
Who was it?
OXYCODONE
Brand name for oxycodone is…oxycontin.
 Street names:
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Oxy
 Hillbilly heroin
 Oxycotton
 Kicker
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Oxycontin first came to the U.S. in 1939, but it
wasn’t until Purdue Pharma began
manufacturing OxyContin in the United States in
1996 that it became widely used.
OXYCODONE CONT.
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Oxycodone is the drug name of the opiate.
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It is also known as “OxyContin”.
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*OxyContin is highly addictive, and one of the strongest
painkillers available!!
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Usually taken orally in pill or tablet form.
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Can provide pain relief for up to 12 hours.
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Classified as a Schedule II controlled substance
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OxyContin most commonly exists in tablet form. These round pills
come in 10mg, 20mg, 40mg, 80mg and 160mg dosages.
OXYCODONE SHORT-TERM EFFECTS…
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The most serious risk associated with
OxyContin, is respiratory depression.
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Toxic overdose and/or death can occur by
taking the tablet broken, chewed, or crushed.
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Other common side effects include
constipation, nausea, sedation, dizziness,
vomiting.
OXYCODONE LONG-TERM EFFECTS…
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Using OxyContin chronically can result in
increased tolerance to the drug.
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Physically addictive which causes withdrawal
symptoms which include restlessness, muscle
and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting,
cold flashes.
CODEINE
Used to treat mild pain.
 Another name given to it is methylmorphine.
 Codeine may be habit-forming and should be used
only by the person it was prescribed for.
 Usually combined with other pain killers such as or
acetaminophen and aspirin.
 It may impair your thinking.
 *Never take with alcohol.
 Tylenol with codeine…contains acetaminophen.
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PROPOXYPHENE
It is used to relieve moderate to mild pain.
 Brand names are Darvon, Darvon-N, and
Dolene.
 Used as a cough suppressant.
 Weaker than morphine, codeine, and
hydrocodone.
 Approved by the FDA in August of 1957.
 Taken orally as a capsule or tablet.
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PROPOXYPHENE CONT.
Propoxyphene increases pain tolerance and
decreases discomfort but the presence of pain
still is apparent.
 Side effects:
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 Depress
breathing
 Dizziness
 Sedation
 Nausea
 Vomiting
THE END!