Opiates-Drug-Facts
Opiates-Drug-Facts Semantically, OPIATES are compounds present in the OPIUM POPPY (Papaver
Somniferum) extracted and refine. OPIOIDS are synthetic or semi-synthetic compounds
which have similar chemical or pharmacological effects.
So morphine is an opiate, because it is a compound present in the opium poppy.
Diamorphine is an opioid, as it is a semi-synthetic compound derived from morphine;
methadone is an opioid and is wholly synthetic.
The term opiates and opioids are often used interchangeably.
Buprenorphine is a partial opiate agonist; it is a potent pain-killer. It binds powerfully to specific opiate
receptors, but only partially activates these receptors hence the “partial agonist?name. This
characteristic means that doses of buprenorphine can be given to fill opiate receptors, blocking other
opiates (such as heroin) from working at them but with less risk of an opiate overdose.
The net result for the user is that, if buprenorphine is taken correctly at a sufficiently high dose, other
opiates used “on top?won’t work, and so such use on top should be reduced. In practice, “use on top?
may take the form of drinking or use of benzos, neither of which is blocked by burprenorphine.
Buprenorphine will compete with other opiates, such as heroin and methadone, and if these compounds
are present at receptor sites, buprenorphine is likely to displace them. This can mean that a user with
heroin in their system may experience withdrawal effects when they take buprenorphine as the full
agonist (heroin, methadone) is displaced by the partial agonist.
However, if someone who has no opiates in their system takes buprenorphine, they can and do get a
significant level of opiate reward ?less intense than heroin, but sufficient to warrant buprenorphine
having a street value as a drug of misuse.
Buprenorphine causes less respiratory suppression than heroin or methadone and so the risk of overdose
is lower. However people can and do overdose on buprenorphine. Naloxone is not wholly effective at
reversing buprenorphine overdoses. Overdose is more likely where burprenorphine has been snorted or
injected.
Buprenorphine is still an opiate with attendant issues of addiction and withdrawal. It is also constipating.
Some users find that it provides a better level of clarity of thought than methadone; while some people
find this aspect beneficial, others don’t like the new clear-headedness that buprenorphine provides.
Buprenorphine is generally prescribed and dispensed for sublingual administration. It is powerfully
broken down by the liver so swallowing buprenorphine is highly ineffective. However, even when taken
sublingually, it is likely that bioavailability is only around 33%.
This level of availability goes up if the drug is crushed and snorted, and goes up higher still if injected.
This has seen a huge increase in the administration of buprenorphine by these routes.
Buprenorphine tablets, under the brand-name Temgesic were widely used as an illicit drug, especially in
Scotland. They were typically crushed and injected. At this time it was primarily marketed as a low dose
tablet for pain relief.
However, it was when it was reformulated and rebranded as Subutex that interest in the drug really
took off. It has been used extensively in France since 1996, and became a lynchpin of the US
prescribing system, being the only opiate-substitute that can be dispensed away from specialist clinics.
Dextromethorphan is used in many cough medicines for its anti-tussive effects. It is derived
from an opioid leverpharnol, but doesn’t exhibit opiate type effects such as euphoria or sedation. Indeed
it may inhibit the action of other opiates.
However, in high doses, Dextromethorphan can cause dissassociative hallucinations and when misused
in this way has similar effects to Ketamine.
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Our Mission:
Drug Rehab Centers insists on guiding people toward a life of excellence, leadership and service.:
Long term drug rehab program and addiction treatment center exclusively for people with chemical dependency and dual diagnosis disorders. Residents are taught responsibility, accountability, life skills, social skills and work ethic, while receiving an equal blend of therapeutic and clinical services. Put simply, our residents learn to live sober not just get sober. Twelve-step recovery is the foundation of our program and daily meetings are attended in the community.
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to constantly evaluate and improve, to be the best program for the continued recovery of those affected by alcohol and other drug addiction, as well as mental illness, by providing the highest quality and most cost-effective treatment services available. Drug Rehab Centers develops and implements specialized treatment to meet the needs of various clients profiles and provides these services in such a manner that social, economic or demographic factors do not limit an individual’s access to appropriate services. We will achieve this by investing in our research and development, staff, volunteers and programs.
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DRUG-FACTS
