Opiates - A category of psychoactive drugs that are chemically similar to morphine and have strong pain-relieving properties.
- Opiates cross into blood-brain barrier to produce a rush/feelings of euphoria.
- Significant respiratory complications, death, cardiac depression.
- Physical dependence...
- Physical dependence develops dramatically as soon as regular use begins (sometimes even when its
administered clinically appropriate).
Withdrawal symptoms include: restlessness, irritability, nausea, diarrhea, sweating, and gooseflesh.
Subcutaneous - ✔✔Injection of medication in a liquid form underneath the skin into the subcutaneous
tissue
GABA - ✔✔inhibitory neurotransmitter slows or calms things down.
Heroin (Opiate) - ✔✔- Naturally occurring substance extracted from seedpod of various poppy plants.
- 1898 - commercially marketed as new pain remedy
- 1914 - designated as controlled substance under the Harrison Narcotic Act
- Schedule 1 drug.
- Route of administration: smoked, snorted, or IV. Greatest intensity and most rapid onset of euphoria
(7-8 sec) from IV. Peak effects felt by 10-15 min.
- Crosses the blood-brain barrier, converts to morphine, and rapidly binds to opioid receptors in brain.
, - Serious adverse health side effects: fatal OD, collapsed veins, cardiac depression, and blood-borne
infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, Hep C) + societal consequences such as disruptions in family, work place,
etc.
- Significant increase of OD (slow, shallow breathing, convulsions, coma) &/or death.
- Street heroin often cut with various other substances (sugar, starch, strychnine, etc) that do not
dissolve when injected and cause more issues in body.
- Major withdrawal symptoms peak btw 48-72 hours after last dose. Subside in about a week.
Fentanyl (Rx Opiate) - ✔✔- Commonly used and abused agent
- Exists in 2 formulations: 1. Injectable form used with other agents during anesthesia, & 2. A skin patch
used as a sustained-release form to treat pain.
Various other Rx Opiates - ✔✔- Morphine, meperidine (Demerol), fentanyl: most commonly appear as
prepared injection forms that have been diverted from legal medical use. May be injected either IV or
subcutaneously (skin popping).
- Codeine, propoxyphene: Lower potency and usually appear in pill form and taken orally.
Depressants - ✔✔Drugs (such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opiates) that reduce neural activity and slow
body functions.
- Prescribed to help relieve anxiety, irratibility, and tension.
- Normally called "downers" because they calm users down.
- With regular use, high potential for abuse and development of tolerance.
- Effects are exacerbated when various kinds of depressants mix (alcohol + barbs = not good).
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