Talk:Opioid dependency
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This was one of the first articles I edited on Wikipedia when I finally got round to signing up for a user account; it's got a little bigger, but is still quite unloved. For something which affects probably millions of people around the world, you'd think something more can be written. Does the article need to be deleted? Or merged into Opioid#Dependence_and_withdrawal_issues?
Hence addition of the {{attention}} tag.
Richard W.M. Jones 14:46, 1 November 2005 (UTC)
- I agree the article does need some more work, perhaps as someone going through these issues I will attempt to add some more useful text later when I have some time (although I have never really made major page edits before and worry my personal experience of the issue may cause inadvertent POV issues) MttJocy 21:39, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Requested name change
I think that the name of this page should be opioid dependency rather than opiate, because it then encompasses the full range of opioids rather than simply morphine and codeine
--javsav (cbf logging in)
- Agreed, dependency to opioid drugs and true natural opiates functions in much the same way with similar effects, thus Opioid would be more suitable, I do suggest a redirect is left as well though due to the common erronious perception in the general public that opiate refers to all the opioid drugs, such as heroin, hydrocodone, oxycodone etc are often mistakenly termed opiates. MttJocy 21:39, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Effects on the brain
Prescription pain killers are widely used and for most people who use them, especially those who suffer with chronic pain, they are extremely effective and necessary for them to live a pain free and productive life. It is when these narcotics are abused and used for non-medical purposes that it creats a problem. The effects on the brain from long term use of opioids range from acute sensory effects such as blurred vision or impaired judgement, to extreme effects such as respiratory depression or cardiac arrest. The brain controls the addiction by becoming dependant on the drugs and also by creating a tolerance to the drugs which forces the addict to increase drug usage. Even after the addict has stopped using the opioids, the brain can still create urges and cravings making it hard for the addict to stay away from the drugs. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Gigi1123 (talk • contribs) 02:14, 25 April 2008 (UTC)
