Answer

Drugs, Justice and Society Unit 2

Question 3. Examine the effects opiates have on the mind and body

Opiates are drugs, which are narcotic and acts as depressants on the central nervous system. Originating from opium, opiates can be used as a medicine, but their abuse is also a possibility. Misusing the prescribed opiates can be as dangerous as the illegal opioids, which have severe effects on both the brain and the overall body. In most cases, opiates are an effective type of painkillers whose proper use helps in relieving pain, but as soon as they are taken without a prescription, results in severe effects, as discussed in this paper.

Opiate painkillers tend to have significant effects on the brain, which includes daytime sleepiness that, in most cases, require the use of additional stimulant medications to counteract. This further subjects the brain to more danger, as the individual requires more drugs to overcome the influence of the other (Levinthal, 2015). Besides, the use of heroin can result in intense drowsiness that can lead to a temporary loss of consciousness. A long term of the opiates also subjects the brain to higher risks of developing major depression. Interestingly, people that have abused these drugs for over six months have a fifty percent likelihood of developing a depressive episode. The patient is also likely to create a health condition known as hypoxia, which develops because of inadequate oxygen supply to the brain.

On the respiratory system, these drugs can cause respiratory depression, which subsequently creates slow breathing, which can lead to death. Substantially, abuse of opiates slows down breathing, which then results in low oxygen supply to nearly all the vital body organs (Levinthal, 2015). When oxygen fails to reach these organs in sufficient amounts, the body develops a risk of organ damage, which depending on the severity, leads to death. Notwithstanding, even at sufficient doses, opiates can still deprive the brain and body tissues of oxygen, thereby causing respiratory arrest (Levinthal, 2015). Therefore, the use or abuse of opioids can prove fatal because of its possible damage to respiratory efficiency.

On the digestive system, opiates slow down the process of digestion and can lead to constipation. This occurs because of its effect on the muscles of the digestive system. Furthermore, because of the slowed gastrointestinal motility, opiate abuse increases risks of chronic health conditions of the digestive system, including peritonitis, perforation, and bowel obstructions (Levinthal, 2015). Vomiting is also a common thing with users of opioids, as well as nausea. Conversely, they also have critical effects on the nervous system where increased abuse results in the development of hyperalgesia and an overall slowdown in the physical movement arising from psychomotor impairment.

Moreover, opioid painkillers also affect the immune system by inhibiting the immune response that can place the body into increased threats of infections (Levinthal, 2015). This is because of the opioid receptors’ involvement in the regulation of immunity. Consistent use and abuse of these drugs can also increase acetaminophen toxicity, which causes liver damage. Both prescriptions and illegal use of opioid medications can increase the levels of acetaminophen, which makes the liver damage the threat of significant concern both for the abuser and for the health department. Therefore, the body and the brain are in constant danger when individuals chose to use or abuse opiates (Levinthal, 2015). Furthermore, even the sharing of needles when injecting heroin and crushed pills can lead to blood-borne pathogens such as the hepatitis C virus. Opioid use can make an individual a slave, making it impossible to enjoy life experiences.