Opioids and Substance Abuse

Abstract

Opioids have numerous effects in the human body, some of which are therapeutic like relief from pain. Opioids are also used for cough suppression. Heroin was first marketed as a nonaddictive cough suppressant until it was discovered that when it was quickly broken down lo morphine in the body, it was twice as potent. Other effects can be detrimental such as decreased bowel motility. Opioids are used to treat diarrhea, but the same mechanism of action may lead to constipation during treatment for pain. Other adverse effects of opioids are respiratory depression, itching, and nausea and sedation. A sense of euphoria from recreational use of these medications leads some people to use them solely for that purpose. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved). (chapter)