Morphine’s existence in the medical world is palpable for over two centuries. Since it was crystalized from opium in 1805, morphine and its derivatives are being widely used to treat pain. It still remains the standard against which all new medications for post-operative pain relief are compared.
Named after Morpheus – the Greek god of dreams – morphine provides a dream-like state and a sudden sense of euphoric rush. This drug was initially injected but is now available in the forms of tablets and syrup also. Though it is regarded as a gold standard for pain relievers, morphine can cause constipation, slow breathing, lowered heart rate and itchiness. It can also cause unconsciousness, cardiac arrest, suffocation, coma and even death.
Like other prescription opiates, morphine can be habit-forming even after regular doses and can soon lead to abuse and dependency. Tolerance to this drug develops quickly due to its highly addictive potential. When used for a prolonged time, people can become psychologically and physically dependent; and if stopped abruptly, severe withdrawal symptoms tend to occur in the abuser.
The best solution for curbing the addiction, is to stop morphine completely. However, stopping it abruptly can cause severe and sometimes fatal withdrawal symptoms. So, this process should be done in a controlled medical environment offered at a morphine addiction treatment center.
Since withdrawal symptoms of morphine can be serious, it should be managed through a medical detoxification process at a certified morphine addiction rehab, which not only helps to ease out the situation during withdrawal but also cuts the risk of relapse. During the detox process, addiction specialists monitor the patient’s adaptation to the treatment and the vital information needed for tailoring an individualized treatment plan for a faster recovery.
The efficient morphine drug rehab centers use a multi-pronged approach to treat morphine addiction. Different treatments like humane detox, psychotherapies, medication management and other curative procedures are integrated to design the best program according to the needs of the patient. Experiential treatments with therapeutic techniques are also applied to help heal the patient’s body, mind and spirit.
Any state-of-the-art facility will have both inpatient and outpatient programs. Inpatient rehabilitation is the best for those battling with severe morphine addiction or who have relapsed before. One must opt for an accredited inpatient rehab center during the initial days of physical withdrawal, after which the recovery process can be continued through outpatient curative procedures, depending on the doctor’s advice.