The signs of morphine addiction include many physical and emotional changes in the user. Because morphine is highly addictive, the user builds a tolerance (the need for higher and higher doses to maintain the same effect) and physical and psychological dependence develops quickly. It can be difficult for healthcare providers to assess whether a person has an addiction to morphine or if the true problem is actually inadequate pain control. Healthcare providers are leery of over prescribing and treating pain for fear of “creating” an addict. This can then lead to a person being accused of being a morphine addict when in reality they’re simply trying to control their pain. Inadequate pain control can generally be an excuse for those who inevitably become addicted.
Morphine can be taken orally in tablet form, and it can also be injected subcutaneously, intramuscularly, or intravenously; the last is the route preferred by those who are addicted to morphine. Other signs of morphine addiction include the paraphernalia used to take the drug. Morphine users may have needles, tourniquets, morphine tablets, liquid morphine or crushed up powder.
Morphine is a potent narcotic opiate with high susceptibility for abuse and addiction. Morphine’s addictive nature activates the brain’s reward systems. The promise of reward is very intense, causing the individual to continually crave more and to focus his or her activities around taking the drug. The ability of morphine to strongly activate the brain’s reward mechanisms and its ability to chemically alter the normal functioning of these systems is what produces addiction. One of the many signs of morphine addiction is that it reduces the user’s level of consciousness, harming their ability to think or be fully aware of present surroundings.
Physical signs of morphine addiction include but are not limited to:
The emotional signs of morphine addiction can include:
It’s always recommended that an individual who wishes to decrease their usage of any narcotic, do so under medical supervision in a detox facility. As a narcotic, morphine leads to physical dependence. However, physical dependence is not a sign of abuse or addiction; it is a predictable, physical response to chronic use of the narcotic. The body becomes accustomed to physical changes that morphine causes, and stopping the drug will lead to withdrawal symptoms. This is not necessarily a sign of addiction, at least in the sense that most people use the term.
Signs of morphine addiction withdrawal include but are not limited to:
Morphine withdrawal symptoms reach peak intensity in 36 to 72 hours. Without treatment, the signs of morphine addiction withdrawal will run their course in five to seven days, even though cravings for morphine may continue for months.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a morphine addiction, we can help. Please call our toll free number at (877) 259-5633. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer your questions on morphine addiction and treatment. All calls are private and confidential.