Question

The opiate crisis has revealed that addiction can occur to psychoactive medications as well as illicit drugs. What are the risks and safeguards associated with medications versus illicit drugs and how do these factors impact the harm associated with using these different classes of substances?please include references. needs 250 words.

Answer 1

Before going into discussion we can differentiate, that what are the opioids and what are the opiates and what are the Narcotics,

Opiods: used for the synthetic opiates such as OxyContin and Fenatyl,

Opiates: refers to natural or slightly modified components of opium such as codeine, Morphine and Heroin,

Narcotics: these are mind altering components with sleep induced property ,

OPIATE CRISIS: It was Bagan in 1990s, became endemic, due to high cost of heroin and it is not possible prepare in Lab, hence China has created substance called Fenatyl which is very cheap and easily available that is why Drug dealers habituate this Opiate into the Market,

Substances of Opioids:

Heroin, Methadona,Propoxyphene etc,

clinical presentation of overdose of Opioids:

- respiratory Depression,

- decreased levels of Consiousness,

-Miosis,

Over dose with Fentanyl may result in negative urine toxicology screen bec of it has no time to metabolise,

Diagnostic testing: pulse oximetry and ABGs and Capinography.

Stages of withdrawal :

Acute and post acute withdrawal,

Acute withdrawal associated Physical signs and post acute withdrawal associated with emotional signs.

Symptoms with Opiates:

- Mood Swings,

- Anxiety,

-Low enthusiasm,

-Low Concentration,

-Depression

Illicit Substances: these are also called recreational Drugs, these are mainly -Cocaine,

- Crack Coccaine,

Ecstady,

Hallucinogens,

-Inhalants,

-Ketamine,

Marijuna,

-Meth

-Synthetic Marijuna,

The withdrawal symptoms are severe and can include Heart palpitations and seizures,

Treatment includes for both substances are mainly

-Rehabilitation,

-Naloxone,Suboxone,Methadone, Revia