Dino Bertoli
Teddy Hoxie
Ryan Ochs
3/20/17
Period 1
Codeine
What is codeine? Codeine is a narcotic and an opioid that is used to treat pain, coughs, and diarrhea. In raw opium it can It be found in concentrations of 0.7% to 2.5%. It is similar to morphine, also an opioid narcotic, only less potent. It is commonly distributed in tablets intended for moderate pain relief. Its other most common form is a liquid. In this from it is used as a cough suppressant. In fact, most of the cough syrups in the U.S. requiring of a prescription contain codeine. Though uncommon it is also available as an injectable for pain relief. According to the World Health Organization claims it is also the most commonly used opiate in the world. Furthermore, it has a reputation of being the safest opioid analgesic. This all changes however when used in excess. Upon repeated over consumption, this drug becomes both mentally and physically addicting.
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This is because codeine is a schedule II drug in the United States which means that selling this drug without a DEA permit for no solution is illegal. If these requirements are met then it is in fact legal for medical purposes. For this reason illegal trafficking of this drug is relatively uncommon. Furthermore, certain medications like Tylenol II-IV that contain less than 90 mg of codeine are considered schedule III drugs. Drugs that fall under this class are less prone to being abused and therefore are considered relatively less of a crime if
One of the reasons the epidemic has become so widespread is due to the addictiveness of opioids. Opioids are prescription medications used to treat pain, with oxycodone and hydrocodone being the more popular drugs (Mayo). Opioids are addictive because of the way
Almost one hundred years ago, prescription drugs like morphine were available at almost any general store. Women carried bottles of very addictive potent opiate based pain killers in their purse. Many individuals like Edgar Allen Poe died from such addictions. Since that time through various federal, state and local laws, drugs like morphine are now prescription drugs; however, this has not stopped the addiction to opiate based pain killers. Today’s society combats an ever increasing number of very deadly addictive drugs from designer drugs to narcotics to the less potent but equally destructive alcohol and marijuana. With all of these new and old drugs going in and out of vogue with addicts, it appears that the increase of misuse and abuse is founded greater in the prescription opiate based painkillers.
Opioid addiction is a tragedy that affects countless of Americans on a daily basis. Almost everyone is acquainted to someone, who suffers from opioid addiction. Everyone, but specifically family and friends of the victims to opioid addiction need to understand why their loved ones are so susceptible to becoming addicted to opioids. The word opioid in itself is complex to define, but it entails a variety of prescription medications. Most opioids are used as pain management medications and qualify as CII medications also known as narcotics. They are supposed to be used on an “as needed” basis, but that is not the case for many users of opioids. Opioids cause great fear in the health community because they are easily addictive and
Surprisingly, some people actually take this drug on purpose for the euphoric high that it produces. This practice is also extremely dangerous because in addition to the side effects, the drug can be addictive. This means that the longer you use it, you need to use more and more to reach the same level of “high” and if you stop taking it, you go through withdrawal.
Opioids are used as pain relievers and although it does the job, there are adverse side effects. Opioids are frequently used in the medical field, allowing doctors to overprescribe their patients. The substance can be very addicting to the dosage being prescribed to the patient. Doctors are commonly prescribing opioids for patients who have mild, moderate, and severe pain. As the pain becomes more severe for the patient, the doctor is more likely to increase the dosage. The increasing dosages of the narcotics become highly addicting. Opioids should not be prescribed as pain killers, due to their highly addictive chemical composition, the detrimental effects on opioid dependent patients, the body, and on future adolescents. Frequently doctors have become carless which causes an upsurge of opioids being overprescribed.
According to CDC in the year 2015 opioids played a part in 33,091 deaths. Now you may ask what an opioid is. An Opioid is a compound that binds to opioid receptors in the body to reduce the amount of pain. There are four main categories of opioids, one being natural opioid analgesics including morphine and codeine, and semi synthetic opioid analgesics, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, and oxymorphone. The second category being methadone, a synthetic opioid, the third category being synthetic opioid analgesics other than methadone includes tramadol and fentanyl. The last category is an illicit opioid that is synthesized from morphine called heroin.
Opioids are prescribed to help people; prescription opioids can be used to treat moderate-to-severe pain and are often prescribed following surgery or injury, or for health conditions such as cancer (Prescription Opioids). When taken as directed, opioids are safe and effective treatment options for relieving debilitating chronic pain (Highsmith). Doctors have a screening protocol they follow before prescribing an opioid. Doctors ask patients about their past to see if any substance abuse was present, to rule out patients with a higher risk of becoming addicted to prescription opioids. Nonetheless, if the medication is used as directed, not only is your risk of addiction minimal, the odds of enjoying a better quality of life will be in your favor (Highsmith).
In the United States, opioid addiction rates have majorly increased . Between 2000-2015 more than half a million individuals have died from Opioid overdose, and nearly 5 million people have an opioid dependence which has become a serious problem. The Center for Disease control reports that there are 91 deaths daily due to opioid abuse. Taking opioids for long periods of time and in
Disinfection is applied in water as well as wastewater treatment as a finishing step so as to destroy pathogens but the cause of concern regarding the disinfection process is the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Natural organic matter (NOM) in water has been considered as the predominant DBP precursors. Disinfectants are powerful oxidants that oxidize the organic matter present in water forming DBPs. Chlorine, ozone, chlorine dioxide, and chloramines are the most common disinfectants used nowadays and each produces its own suite of chemical DBPs in finished drinking water (Richardson, 2003). DBPs so formed pose a threat to human health because of their potential to cause cancer and reproductive/developmental effects. Most developed nations have regulated concentration of DBPs so as to minimize exposure to potentially harmful DBPs while maintaining adequate disinfection and control of targeted
useful in the relief of mild to moderate pain. It is also used as a cough remedy
Of course, to obtain a prescription medication such as a strong pain killer, you would think you would need a prescription. So how are so many teens retrieving these drugs that can permanently alter their lives? In this day and age, most teenagers have access to the internet, computer, and all sorts of technology. The statement, “you can find anything on the internet,” holds true in this situation, as many teens are able to purchase all sorts of prescription medication online (4). If a parent suspects their child may be abusing prescription drugs, they should begin monitoring their search history and credit card purchases. It is shocking that teenagers can so easily purchase drugs online, just as easily as purchasing anything else. Another way these teens may be obtaining prescription drugs is by theft. Believe it or not, many teen
As a pain killer, morphine is used in hospitals around the United States for pain management and post-surgery. The main types of consumption is through smoking, snorting, rectal, I.V, orally, and through injection. A pump can also be used to administer the drug to the patient. Most times pumps are used in extreme cases of nerve disorders which usually entail a catheter being microscopically implanted into the spinal cord.
P1 - It is less addictive than the opioids that are prescribed to us through the pharmaceutical companies. Big Pharma are making millions off of opioids that can be easily abused and also easily obtained.
In 1805, morphine and codeine were isolated from opium, and morphine served as a cure for opium addiction since its addictive characteristics were not known. Morphine’s use as a treatment for opium addiction was initially well received as morphine has about ten times more euphoric effects than the equivalent amount of opium. Over the years, however, morphine abuse increased.
Aranella, Cheryl, MD., M.P.H. Use of Opiates to Manage Pain in the Seriously and Terminally Ill Patient. American Hospice Foundation, 2006. Web. 7 November 2011.