Morphine Addiction & Abuse in South Jersey

What Is Morphine?

Morphine is a powerful opioid medication prescribed to manage moderate to severe pain. Derived from the opium poppy plant, morphine works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord. This action disrupts pain signals and creates a sense of calm or euphoria. Because of its potency, morphine is typically prescribed for severe injuries, post-surgical pain or advanced cancer-related pain. However, it can also lead to dependence and addiction, particularly when misused or taken over a prolonged period.

Like many opioids, morphine carries a high risk of tolerance, meaning that people who use it often need increasing doses to achieve the same pain-relieving or euphoric effects. Unfortunately, this escalating pattern can put individuals at risk for an addiction that can be challenging to overcome without professional help.

Morphine Effects

When taken exactly as prescribed and under medical supervision, morphine can effectively relieve severe pain and improve quality of life for those who genuinely need it. However, misuse — such as taking higher doses than recommended or using morphine without a prescription — can lead to harmful effects. Common effects of morphine include:

• Euphoria and Relaxation: Morphine binds to receptors in the brain that regulate emotions and pain perception, which can cause a feeling of intense relaxation and well-being.
• Pain Relief: One of morphine’s primary therapeutic uses is reducing pain by interrupting pain signals between the body and the brain.
• Drowsiness or Sedation: Morphine can depress the central nervous system, resulting in lethargy, fatigue and an overall slowdown of brain and bodily functions.
• Nausea and Vomiting: Morphine can irritate the digestive system, causing gastrointestinal distress, especially when someone first starts using it.
• Constipation: Like many opioids, morphine can slow bowel motility, leading to significant constipation.

When taken in high doses, morphine can trigger dangerous respiratory depression. This is a critical concern because suppressed breathing can lead to oxygen deprivation, permanent organ damage or even death.

Morphine Addiction and Abuse

Morphine addiction typically stems from misuse or overuse of a prescription, but it can also occur in people who initially used morphine exactly as prescribed for pain control. Because of the intense euphoria it can create, morphine has a high potential for abuse. Individuals may find themselves chasing the initial “rush,” taking more and more of the drug to capture that same feeling.

Signs of morphine addiction can include:

• Increasing Tolerance: Needing larger doses to feel the original effect.
• Withdrawal Symptoms: Experiencing unpleasant side effects when not taking the drug, such as muscle aches, anxiety, sweating, insomnia and irritability.
• Obsessive Drug-Seeking Behavior: Focusing significant time and energy on obtaining and using morphine, often at the expense of responsibilities and relationships.
• Loss of Control: Being unable to stop using morphine despite negative consequences.
• Continued Use Despite Harm: Ignoring the negative physical, emotional and social effects of morphine use.

Treatment for Morphine Addiction

Effective treatment often involves a combination of medication and behavioral therapies, a strategy known as medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Medications like buprenorphine, methadone or naltrexone can help manage withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings, paving the way for deeper recovery work.

From a therapeutic perspective, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) or individual counseling can address the root causes of addiction, such as trauma, co-occurring mental health disorders or stress management deficits. Support groups and aftercare programs are also vital to maintain sobriety, providing accountability and a network of peers who understand the challenges of opioid addiction.

Using Morphine With Other Drugs

Combining morphine with other substances significantly increases the risk of dangerous side effects and overdose. People struggling with morphine addiction often mix it with additional drugs to amplify the euphoric effects or to self-medicate for emotional pain. Common substances that may be used alongside morphine include:

• Alcohol: Both alcohol and morphine suppress the central nervous system, which can lead to severe respiratory depression and increase the risk of a fatal overdose.
• Benzodiazepines: Medications like Valium or Xanax can heighten the sedation and respiratory depression caused by morphine, raising the likelihood of overdose.
• Stimulants: While some may mistakenly combine morphine with stimulants like cocaine or amphetamines to “balance” the effects, this can place extreme stress on the heart and circulatory system.

It is critical to seek help if you or someone you know is using morphine in combination with other substances, as this practice dramatically escalates health risks.

Morphine Abuse Statistics

Opioid abuse has become a widespread issue in the United States, and morphine misuse plays a part in this epidemic. Although public attention often centers on more commonly misused opioids like heroin and fentanyl, morphine-related problems remain prevalent in many communities. Some insights into morphine abuse include:

Many people who develop opioid use disorder start with legitimate prescriptions, highlighting the importance of monitoring prescription usage to prevent morphine misuse.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, prescription opioid misuse is a major contributor to the ongoing opioid crisis, and morphine falls within this category. In 2023, 8.9 million people 12 and older misused opioids in the past year.

Over the past decade, there have been efforts to track and regulate opioid prescriptions, yet morphine misuse persists due to its availability in hospital and clinical settings.

Morphine Addiction Treatment Options

In 2018, more than 5,300 New Jersey residents sought help stopping non-heroin opioids like morphine. The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper offers a variety of services to help you win your struggle with morphine in a comfortable and caring environment.

FAQs

It is common to have questions while you are learning how to overcome a reliance on morphine. Frequently asked questions include:

What schedule is morphine?

The Drug Enforcement Administration lists morphine as a Schedule II drug. This means the narcotic is prone to addiction, dependence and abuse.

What does morphine do?

Morphine is an opioid that is FDA-approved for severe pain. Morphine blocks pain sensations and relaxes the central nervous system, slowing different autonomic functions to calm the patient.

How long does morphine last?

Morphine comes in many different dosage forms lasting different lengths of time. Some of its dosage forms are short-acting, while others are long-acting. Typically, a short-acting dosage form like injectable morphine can last up to 4 hours and is, therefore, often dosed every 4 hours as needed. Conversely, a long-acting dosage form like morphine capsules can last all day.

How long does morphine stay in your system?

Morphine is detectable in your body for different periods of time, depending on what is being tested. For example, the drug can show up in urine for up to 3 days. It can show up in the saliva for up to 2 days. A 1.5-inch section of hair can also show the past 90 days of drug use.

Can morphine kill you?

A morphine overdose can be deadly. Although morphine can be fatal on its own, the risk is further increased when morphine is mixed with another central nervous system depressant like a benzodiazepine.