Morphine Addiction: Symptoms, Causes, Effects, And Treatment Strategies

Morphine addiction is the uncontrolled use of the drug morphine for its calming effects, disregarding the adverse consequences. Morphine is a powerful pain-relieving medication derived from the opium poppy plant. It belongs to a class of drugs known as opioids, which are used to manage moderate to severe pain. 

According to Richards, G. C.’s 2022 study, ‘Global, regional, and national consumption of controlled opioids: a cross-sectional study of 214 countries and non-metropolitan territories.’, United States ranked as the third-highest consumer of controlled opioids with 398 mg/person annually between 2015-2017. The study analyzed data from the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) for medical purposes, excluding recreational use.

The symptoms of morphine addiction involve both physical and psychological aspects. Physically, morphine-addicted users might experience weight loss, decreased appetite, and constipation. Psychological symptoms include increased anxiety, depression, and a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed.

The causes of Morphine addiction include long-term use or abuse of the drug. Genetic predisposition, environmental factors, high stress or trauma, and social influences like peer pressure also contribute to the development of an addiction. 

The effects of morphine addiction include respiratory depression, increased risk of infectious diseases from needle sharing, and overall deterioration of health. Socially, it results in broken relationships, job loss, and financial problems. Psychologically, it causes depression or anxiety, and, in severe cases, it leads to overdose and death.

Treating morphine addiction involves a combination of medical and therapeutic approaches such as detoxification, medication-assisted therapies, counseling, and behavioral therapies.

What Is Morphine Addiction?

Morphine addiction is a type of opioid use disorder characterized by the uncontrollable, compulsive use of morphine (a potent prescription painkiller), despite harmful consequences. This medical condition occurs when regular morphine use leads to physical and psychological dependence, marked by tolerance development requiring escalating doses, severe withdrawal symptoms upon cessation, and persistent drug-seeking behavior that disrupts daily functioning. As one of the most common prescription painkiller addictions, it affects millions of people worldwide and requires professional medical intervention for successful treatment.

According to a 2022 report from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), more than 5 million people aged 12 and older used morphine products in the past year, with an estimated 375,000 people engaging in nonmedical misuse of morphine or for pleasure.

What Are The Symptoms Of Morphine Addiction?

The symptoms of morphine addiction include constricted pupils, sudden weight loss, secretive behavior, social isolation, and severe mood swings. Individuals may also experience intense drug cravings, sleep disruption, and neglect of daily responsibilities.

Here are the common morphine addiction symptoms:

Physical Symptoms of morphine addiction:

• Pinpoint Pupils: Morphine stimulates parasympathetic pathways, causing pupillary constriction.
• Weight Loss: Appetite suppression from opioid effects and neglect of nutritional needs.
• Drowsiness: Central nervous system depression alters arousal and sleep-wake cycles.
• Constipation: Opioid receptors in the gut inhibit motility, slowing digestion.
• Flu-like Symptoms: Withdrawal triggers autonomic instability, mimicking illness.

Behavioral Symptoms of morphine addiction:

• Secrecy: Fear of judgment or legal consequences drives concealment of use.
• Social Withdrawal: Drug use consumes time and energy, replacing interpersonal connections.
• Financial Problems: Resources prioritize obtaining morphine, leading to debt.
• Neglected Responsibilities: Compulsive drug use overrides obligations.
• Mood Swings: Opioid-induced neurotransmitter imbalances disrupt emotional regulation.

Psychological Symptoms of morphine addiction:

• Anxiety: Withdrawal heightens sympathetic nervous system activity and stress responses.
• Depression: Chronic morphine use depletes dopamine, reducing pleasure motivation.
• Cravings: Opioids hyperactivate reward circuits, reinforcing drug-seeking behavior.
• Concentration Issues: Prolonged opioid exposure impairs prefrontal cortex function.

What Are The Causes Of Morphine Addiction?

Morphine addiction is caused by prolonged use, prescription management, genetic factors, psychological factors, and environmental influences. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 9.7 million individuals over 12 of age misuse painkillers, 16.5% for the first time, making it the most abused type of prescription drug.

Prolonged Use

Regular or long-term use of morphine, especially in high doses, leads to physical dependence and addiction. Over time, the human body becomes accustomed to the presence of the drug and its effects, making it harder to function normally without it. 

This dependency causes an increase in the body’s tolerance to morphine, causing the individual to up the dosage to achieve the desired effect. Increased tolerance is a one-way ticket to addiction. According to Woller, S. A.’s 2012 study, ‘Analgesia or addiction?: implications for morphine use after spinal cord injury.’, prolonged or continuous use of morphine for chronic pain management leads to concerning rates of drug abuse, with studies indicating that between 18-45% of patients using opioids for extended periods beyond normal healing develop patterns of drug abuse.

Prescription Mismanagement

Morphine is a pain killer commonly prescribed by healthcare practitioners. Sometimes, healthcare providers do not adequately manage morphine. They might prescribe higher doses than needed or for longer durations than necessary. This misprescription increases the risk of addiction.

When an individual takes morphine for longer than necessary and in higher doses than needed, the body becomes accustomed to the euphoric and calming feeling the drug gives and craves it. This craving is what leads to addiction. 

According to Ling, W.’s 2008 study, ‘Prescription opioid abuse, pain and addiction: clinical issues and implications.’,  non-medical use of prescription opioids in the USA has increased threefold since 1990, with treatment admissions rising 400% from 1998 to 2008, reaching 120,877 cases in 2008.

Genetic Factors

A family history of addiction increases the risk of morphine addiction. Genetics influences susceptibility to addiction and affects the body’s processing and reaction to drugs. Individuals with addiction-prone genes experience intense cravings for morphine and actively seek the drug. This inability to resist morphine cravings leads to addiction.

Psychological Factors

People with mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression tend to use morphine to self-medicate. Self-medicating on morphine leads to dependency because they will always seek relief from their symptoms.

According to Rosic, T.’s 2021 study, ‘Trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder in patients treated for opioid use disorder: findings from a 12-month cohort study’, trauma and PTSD significantly overlap with opioid addiction, with 59% of patients having experienced trauma (11% with current PTSD, 48% with past trauma). PTSD patients began using opioids earlier (age 23.3 vs 26.9 years in non-trauma patients) and required higher methadone doses (84.5 mg/day vs 70 mg/day), suggesting trauma may be both a risk factor for earlier addiction onset and a complicating factor in treatment.

Social and Environmental Influences

Environmental factors like stress, peer pressure, and exposure to drug use in one’s social or family circle significantly contribute to the development of addiction. When an individual is exposed to the use of morphine, especially at an early age or from friends, it is easy to try or attempt to use it.

What Are The Effects Of Morphine Addiction?

The effects of morphine addiction seen on a user are health complications, lifestyle changes, psychological impact, and neglect of social relationships.

What Are The Physical Health Effects Of Morphine Addiction?

The physical effects of morphine addiction are respiratory depression, constipation, hormonal imbalance, dental problems, withdrawal symptoms, skin infection, and cardiovascular disturbance. 

• Respiratory Depression: Morphine slows down one’s breathing. This is one of the most dangerous effects of opioid use, as it leads to hypoxia (a condition where not enough oxygen reaches the brain), which causes short-term and long-term neurological damage or even be fatal. 
  According to Almouaalamy, N. A.’s 2022 study, ‘Opioid-induced respiratory depression and risk factors in a tertiary hospital: A retrospective study.’, opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD) was more common in young and middle-aged adults, with significant risk factors including daily morphine doses ≥150 MME, fentanyl use, low urea concentration, and admission under surgery. Notably, only 0.915% of total patients required naloxone intervention during this period.
• Constipation: Morphine reduces gastrointestinal motility, leading to severe constipation causing discomfort and other digestive system issues such as bloating and abdominal pain. According to Kumar, L.’s 2014 study, ‘Opioid-induced constipation: pathophysiology, clinical consequences, and management.’, between 40-95% of patients develop opioid-induced constipation, and even with laxative treatment, 54% of patients don’t get adequate relief since laxatives don’t target the underlying cause – the μ-receptor binding in the gut.
• Hormonal Imbalance: Long-term morphine use disrupts the normal functioning of the endocrine system, leading to issues such as reduced libido, infertility, and irregular menstrual cycles in women, and decreased testosterone levels in men leading to reduced sexual drive and performance, and even osteoporosis.
• Cardiovascular Disturbance: Morphine causes lowered blood pressure and heart rate, which is dangerous, particularly for those with pre-existing heart conditions.
• Withdrawal Symptoms:  People addicted to morphine experience muscle and bone pain, sleep disturbances, abdominal pain, diarrhea, anorexia, anxiety, vomiting, and cold flashes with goosebumps upon withdrawal. According to Bluthenthal, R. N.’s 2021 study, ‘Opioid withdrawal symptoms, frequency, and pain characteristics as correlates of health risk among people who inject drugs.’, 85% of participants reported experiencing opioid withdrawal symptoms in the last 6 months, with 29% experiencing symptoms at least monthly and 35% experiencing them at least weekly. More than half of the participants (57%) described their withdrawal symptoms as very or extremely painful.
• Dental Problems: Morphine reduces the production of saliva, leading to dry mouth, which increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
• Skin Infections and Abscesses: Injection drug use also causes local skin infections and abscesses if drugs are injected under unsterile conditions.

What Are The Mental And Cognitive Effects Of Morphine Addiction?

Here are the mental and cognitive effects of Morphine addiction below:

• Dependence and Tolerance: Morphine users become dependent on morphine, meaning they need to take more of the drug to achieve the same effects (tolerance) and experience withdrawal symptoms without it. 
• Withdrawal Symptoms: When morphine addicts try to withdraw, they experience withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, depression, irritability, and mood swings. In severe cases, individuals may experience psychosis.
• Mood Changes: Morphine produces feelings of euphoria. Users swing between feeling euphoric while under the influence to experiencing dysphoria when the effects wear off.
• Cognitive Impairment: Users find it difficult to concentrate, learn new information, or remember things (impaired memory). According to Bruijnen, C. J. W. H.’s 2019 study, ‘Prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients with substance use disorder.’, opioid users showed a 38% prevalence of cognitive impairment, with significant deficits in visuospatial abilities compared to cannabis and stimulant users.
• Depression: The despair and hopelessness of addiction deepen pre-existing depression and trigger new depressive episodes.

How Does Morphine Affect The Brain?

Morphine affects the brain by binding to opioid receptors, particularly the mu-opioid receptors, which are located throughout the central nervous system. When morphine binds to these receptors, it activates a cascade of biochemical events that result in reduced perception of pain, feelings of euphoria, and sedation.

Morphine also inhibits the release of neurotransmitters involved in pain signaling, such as the substance P, thereby further reducing the sensation of pain. However, prolonged use of morphine leads to tolerance, dependence, and addiction, as well as potential side effects such as respiratory depression, constipation, and drowsiness.

What Are The Social Consequences Of Morphine Addiction?

The social consequences of morphine addiction severely impact relationships, employment, and daily functioning. When someone becomes addicted to morphine, they experience strained relationships with family and friends due to behavioral changes. The addiction causes them to withdraw from social activities and isolate themselves from loved ones. Their behavior becomes increasingly secretive, especially regarding their drug use, leading to broken trust and damaged relationships.

Beyond personal relationships, morphine addiction creates significant professional and financial consequences. Individuals struggling with morphine addiction lose jobs due to poor performance, absenteeism, and inability to maintain work responsibilities. Morphine addiction significantly affects job performance and workplace reliability. As the addiction progresses, their primary focus shifts from maintaining employment and managing finances to obtaining and using morphine, resulting in severe economic hardship.

What Are The Types Of Morphine?

4 types of Morphine formulations are:

• Immediate-release oral tablets: These provide quick relief of moderate to severe pain and are taken every 4 to 6 hours as needed.
• Extended-release oral tablets: These are formulated to provide prolonged pain relief over 12 to 24 hours and are taken less frequently than immediate-release tablets.
• Injectable solutions: These are administered intravenously, intramuscularly, or subcutaneously in medical settings for acute pain management, such as post-surgery or during labor.
• Rectal suppositories: These are used for patients who are unable to take oral medications or require consistent pain relief over an extended period.

How To Treat Morphine Overdose?

To treat morphine overdose, seek immediate medical attention by calling emergency services. While awaiting help, monitor vital signs and keep the person awake and breathing, positioning them on their side. Do not induce vomiting unless directed by medical professionals. Emergency responders will administer naloxone to reverse the overdose effects, followed by supportive care including respiratory support and IV fluids. Always inform the medical staff about the time and amount of morphine taken, along with any other substances used. Professional medical intervention is crucial for successful overdose treatment and recovery.

What Are The Treatment Strategies For Morphine Addiction?

The treatment strategies for morphine addiction are detoxification, Medical-Assisted Treatment, counseling, support groups, holistic therapy, and aftercare planning.

Here are the main treatment strategies for Morphine Addiction below:

Detoxification

Detoxification is the first step in treating morphine addiction. It involves safely removing the drug from the body under medical supervision. The detoxification process helps the individual manage withdrawal symptoms, which are severe and potentially life-threatening. 

For effective results, detoxification should be combined with other treatment options like Medication Assisted Treatments and other behavioral therapies The 2019 issue of Harvard Health Publishing, titled “Treating opiate addiction, Part I: Detoxification and maintenance,” states that detoxification alone is insufficient, as most individuals with opioid use disorder tend to relapse without additional intervention and support.

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

MAT involves the use of medicines like methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone to reduce morphine cravings and withdrawal symptoms. These medications make it easier to wean off morphine. They act on the same opioid receptors in the brain as morphine but are safer and less likely to produce harmful addictive behaviors. 

According to Deyo-Svendsen, M.’s 2020 study, MAT reduces emergency department visits from 20.1% monthly to nearly half. Long-term success rates show 33.2% of patients maintain heroin abstinence and 20.7% stay free from all opioids after 5 years when using methadone or Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone).

The National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare states that MAT, when integrated with counseling and various therapeutic methods, offers a comprehensive approach to treating the whole patient.

Counseling and Behavioral Therapies

Therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and group therapy help individuals understand the cause of their addiction. Therapy also provides:

• Strategies for coping with cravings.
• Avoiding relapse.
• Managing life stressors without drugs.

Support Groups

Support groups are essential for every other day living with addiction. Participating in support groups provides encouragement from others who are facing similar challenges. These groups give a sense of community and share experiences that are vital in recovery.

Holistic Therapies

Holistic treatments include yoga, meditation, and acupuncture. They help medical treatments and behavioral therapies by improving the addicted individual’s mental health and overall well-being. 

These practices help manage stress, reduce anxiety, and increase the emotional resilience needed to overcome addiction.

Aftercare Planning

Long-term success in recovery depends on thorough aftercare planning. Aftercare planning includes ongoing therapy, continued participation in support groups, and sometimes sober living environments. Aftercare helps individuals navigate life after treatment and maintain their sobriety.

These treatment strategies are tailored to the individual’s specific needs and circumstances. They significantly improve the chances of successful recovery from morphine addiction.

How Quickly Can Someone Become Addicted To Morphine?

Morphine addiction develops very quickly. According to Listos, J.’s 2019 study, ‘The Mechanisms Involved in Morphine Addiction: An Overview.’, Morphine addiction develops through chronic use, with the timeline varying based on factors like dosage, duration of use, age, and genetic predisposition.

What Are The Risks Of Morphine Addiction while Pregnant?

Morphine addiction during pregnancy increases the probability of having complications like premature birth, low birth weight, and withdrawal symptoms in newborns (neonatal abstinence syndrome). According to Abu, Y.’s 2021 study, ‘Prenatal opioid exposure and vulnerability to future substance use disorders in offspring.’, neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) affects 21-94% of neonates exposed to opioids.

It is important for pregnant women suffering from addiction to seek specialized medical care to manage their addiction and reduce risks to the fetus.

Is It Safe To Detox From Morphine At Home?

No it is not safe to detox from morphine at home. Detoxing from morphine at home is risky without professional supervision, especially for those with severe addiction. Withdrawal symptoms are painful and sometimes life-threatening. Medical detox programs provide safe environments to manage withdrawal with medical assistance to reduce discomfort and complications.

Where To Find Treatment For Morphine Addiction?

To find treatment for morphine addiction look for information at rehabilitation centers, addiction treatment facilities, and through medical professionals who specialize in addiction recovery.

What Are The Similarities And Differences Between The Withdrawal Symptoms Of Morphine And Ketamine Addiction?

Withdrawal symptoms for morphine and ketamine addiction share some similarities but also have distinct differences due to their different pharmacological effects. Morphine withdrawal symptoms include severe muscle aches, agitation, insomnia, gastrointestinal distress, and intense cravings. Symptoms of morphine withdrawal are extremely uncomfortable and require a carefully managed detox process with medications that ease symptoms. Ketamine withdrawal symptoms include agitation, anxiety, cravings, and physical discomfort. Ketamine withdrawal symptoms are less severe than opioid withdrawal symptoms, such as those from morphine.

How Does The Risk Of Polydrug Use Complicate The Treatment Of Morphine Addiction?

The risk of polydrug use significantly complicates the treatment of morphine addiction because combining morphine with other substances, such as tobacco, alcohol, or ketamine leads to more severe health risks and complex withdrawal symptoms. Polydrug use increases the potential for dangerous interactions, such as enhanced respiratory depression when opioids are combined with other central nervous system depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepines.

What Are The Different Street or Slang Names For Morphine?

The different street or slang names for Morphine include:

• Miss Emma
• Monkey
• Roxanol
• White Stuff
• Dreamer
• God’s Drug
• M.S.
• Mister Blue

Where And How Is Morphine Typically Manufactured And Produced?

Pharmaceutical companies manufacture morphine through the extraction of opium from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). The production occurs in controlled environments, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. The process involves converting opium into morphine sulfate, which is then formulated into various medicinal forms for distribution.

Is Morphine Illegal?

No, Morphine is not illegal in the United States, but it is strictly controlled as a Schedule II narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act. Doctors prescribe morphine for medical pain management. Morphine use is heavily regulated due to its high potential for abuse and dependence. Regulatory measures ensure safe and responsible prescribing practices for morphine.

Why Do People Get Addicted To Morphine?

People become addicted to morphine primarily due to its powerful effects on the brain’s reward system. Morphine activates mu-opioid receptors, triggering the release of dopamine, which induces intense feelings of pleasure and reinforces drug-seeking behavior. 

Can Morphine Cause Hallucinations?

Yes, morphine can cause hallucinations. According to Sivanesan, E.’s 2016 study, ‘Opioid-induced Hallucinations: A Review of the Literature, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment.’, morphine has been clearly documented to cause hallucinations in multiple studies. In a 14-month study, 161 patients (5.6%) developed hallucinations with morphine administration, with 8 of these being primarily visual hallucinations. Further evidence comes from the French Pharmacovigilance Database study (1985-2013), where morphine-related hallucinations had an incidence of 143 cases, with an odds ratio of 4.4 (95% confidence interval of 3.7 to 5.2).