The Danger of Taking Opiates such as Heroin

Nobody likes taking opiates.  It can cause you to throw up.  But how come people take it?  How come people get addicted to it?  How can you overcome opiate addiction?

What are opiates?

Opiate is a narcotic drug derived from the opium poppy.  They include drugs like morphine, codeine, Vicodin, Percodan, heroin, and oxycodone.  They are meant to be used as medicine for the treatment of pain.  Other people, however, abuse it by using it without the prescription of a doctor.  And this can lead to opiate addiction.  

How come people take opiates?

Usually people start taking opiates when they are prescribed by their doctors.  For instance, those who suffer fibromyalgia or chronic widespread pain.  You cannot imagine how it really feels to be living in pain and not knowing how to cope with it.  So they see the doctor and sometimes they are told to take opiates.

Others, however, take it even without consulting a doctor in the first place.  They just heard from their relative about how a certain drug, say, morphine, has helped that relative cope with pain.

Still others, out of curiosity, try taking the opiate.  They have heard of the “high” that it gives.  They were told of the feeling of pleasure or the sense of well being that it gives.

Opiates are dangerous to your health:

Whether you are using opiates for medicinal purposes or recreational purposes or just to get a high, opiates are dangerous.  Some of its ill effects include rapid heartbeat, restlessness, speech that is slurred, depression following a sense of euphoria, severe mood swings, etc.  The most dangerous part could be that of its being addictive. There are reliable drug treatment centers in almost all cities in the world and you can certainly be helped.

Opiates are addictive by nature:

Opiates directly work on the brain.  Even if you take a small amount, you can easily get addicted to it. Our brain becomes dependent on them.  The nerve cells in the brain will get so used to the opiate that once you stop taking them, you will crave for them.  You will have withdrawal symptoms.  And you will not be able to control your wanting for them even if you know the health risks that are involved in taking them. 

Help is available:

There is a way out of the rut.  Learning the bad effects of opiates is a start.  You have to make a decision.  Then you can see your doctor or a doctor in a drug treatment center.