Introduction
This essay is about alcohol and opiates. It will discuss alcohol and opiate use, history, and how both of the drugs work in the body. It also covers current trends in alcohol and opiate use, along with societal concerns with the substances. Finally, the topics of helping people with alcohol and opiate addictions are covered, and also the myths surrounding opioids.
Alcohol History
Alcohol has been in use for thousands of years. It is highly addictive and people use it for social reasons, along with medical reasons as well. Some people binge drink on weekends, and others use vodka for herbal tinctures that help naturally treat conditions. Alcohol is very addictive because it affects the way people feel. People often feel carefree when they are intoxicated. They may have reckless behavior and put their health and others health in danger. Many hospital emergency rooms are full of extremely drunken individuals on weekends and nights.
Opium History
Poppy seed, which opiates come from, have been referenced in Sumerian texts as early as 4000 B.C. Opiates are outranked only by alcohol as the most used, widespread, and persistent problem in the drug world. Opiates come from being extracted from the poppy seed, and they can also be made in labs. Opiates treat pain, but they are also used by people who want to reduce anxiety and experience euphoria.(Wulffson, 2015).
Alcohol and the Body
Alcohol is very bad for the human body when consumed in large amounts in short periods of time, or when one has an addiction. People can develop irregular heart beat, high blood pressure, and stroke because of alcohol addiction. It can cause damage to the liver and pancreas, as well. It can weaken the immune system and cause cancer, as well. It can cause impaired movement, slow reaction time, and memory loss and blackouts. Thiamine deficiency is common in people who are addicted to alcohol. This deficiency is caused by poor nutrition, and thiamine is a nutrient that is needed by the brain to properly function.
Opiates and the Body
Opiates can cause problems in the body. Some of the negative side affects that it can cause are nausea and vomiting, constipation, liver damage, slow breathing, and brain damage. It can cause veins to collapse, which is usually a problem with heroin. It can also cause a greater sensitivity to pain. Opiates cause people to be extremely relaxed, and they can become so sleepy that they might hurt themselves or others if trying to drive or operate machinery. People who share needles can contract hepatitis. Lastly, opiates can cause the immune system to function in a reduced capacity, causing a person to be more susceptible to illness.
How Alcohol and Opiates are Used
Alcohol is most commonly drank out of glasses. People consume them with juices and pop. There is also a fairly recent trend of people infusing candy like gummy bears in vodka by soaking them for a few days. Some people do not use alcohol for recreational purposes. They may use them to create herbal tinctures (medicines), and there are many people who use it for religious purposes. Opiates are smoked very often, but also used as crushed pills, and injected as well. They can even be consumed by drinking or eating
Societal Concerns with Alcohol and Opiates
Alcohol and Opiate detoxification programs exist for people who are dependent on the substances. Many people may struggle with withdrawal symptoms, making it difficult to stop using the substances permanently. They may have the typical withdrawal symptoms such as pain, depression, anxiety, sweating, nausea, diarrhea, dilated pupils, and high blood pressure. Sometimes an integrated method of detoxification is helpful.(Stein, 2016).
A societal concern with opiates is that nurses and doctors should know the signs of someone who is addicted to the substance. Running out of medicine and refilling prescriptions before they should is a sign that the person is taking too much of the medication, too often. Many people may start down this path because of chronic pain that makes them want to be pain free around the clock.(Moore, 2016).
Helping People with Alcohol Addictions
As mentioned earlier, it is important to pay attention and understand the signs of alcohol and opiate addiction. Reading and educating oneself as a counselor will be helpful, as well as paying attention to clients who are exhibiting these symptoms such as borrowing medicine from other family members, going to multiple doctors to get the same type of prescription, and losing the prescription. With alcohol, people who are addicted tend to drink to the point that it causes problems with employment and family relationships, and they may have risky behavior (such as reckless driving while drunk, risky sex, etc.).(Smidth 2016).
Myths About Opiates
A myth about opiate use is that it is typically young teens or people in their 20’s who overdose on the drugs. The truth is that it is usually people who are over the age of 30, and are experienced, chronic, dependent users who overdose on these drugs. Teens are in the minority in this statistic of overdoses. Another myth about opiates is that they do not provide relief for acute or chronic lower back pain. The fact is that they actually do provide modest relief for these conditions.(Darke, n.d.).
Conclusion
To conclude, alcohol and opiates are very addictive. They have very negative side effects when taken inappropriately or excessively. They have negative effects, and can cause problems in the personal life of any person who is dependent on them. The withdrawal symptoms for these drugs are very difficult for people to deal with, and can include depression and high blood pressure. It is highly important for mental health professionals to understand and be aware of the symptoms of addiction to alcohol and opiates so that they can properly help their clients get the help that they need. There are many myths involved with opiate use, and one is that teens are the most likely to overdose. Overall, alcohol and opiate overuse and addiction is not good for the human body.
References
Darke, S. (n.d). Opioid overdose and the power of old myths: What we thought we knew, what we do know and why it matters. Drug And Alcohol Review, 33(2), 109-114.)
Moore, D. J. (2016). What you need to know about safe opioid prescribing. American Nurse Today, 11(6), 12.
Treating opiate addiction, part I: detoxification and maintenance. (2004). Harvard Mental Health Letter, 21(6), 4-6.
Smidth, M. (2016). Integrated Care for people who want Alcohol Detoxification in the middle of Denmark. International Journal Of Integrated Care (IJIC), 16(6), 1-2. doi:10.5334/ijic.2930
Stein, M. D., Risi, M. M., Flori, J. N., Conti, M. T., Anderson, B. J., & Bailey, G. L. (2016). Gender differences in the life concerns of persons seeking alcohol detoxification. Journal Of Substance Abuse Treatment, 6334-38. doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2015.12.005
Wulffson, R. M. (2015). Detoxification and substance abuse. Salem Press Encyclopedia Of Health.
