Morphine is a prescription pain medication that is often prescribed to treat acute pain in a hospital setting. It changes how the brain perceives pain by binding to its pain receptors. It can also have other effects such as euphoria and mood changes.
While morphine is highly addictive, there is a difference between morphine dependence and addiction.
How Addictive Is Morphine?
Under the Controlled Substances Act, morphine is a Schedule II drug. This means that, while it has medical uses, it is also highly subject to addiction. It has misuse and addiction potential that is similar to other opioid substances such as methadone, opium and oxycodone. Morphine has a strong effect on the body’s central nervous system. Because it is a frequent drug of misuse, it can only be obtained with a doctor’s prescription.
The Difference Between Morphine Dependence and Addiction
It is a common mistake to equate dependence with addiction. While a person that is addicted to morphine is also likely dependent on the drug, it is possible for dependence to take place without addiction. The difference between the two lies in how the drug impacts the brain and the ways in which the drug is used.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, different parts of the brain are responsible for dependence and addiction. The thalamus and brain stem are the underlying areas responsible for dependence, and addiction involves the reward pathways. Withdrawal symptoms will take place in both a person who is dependent and one who is addicted, but a person who is dependent will not exhibit compulsive behavior.
What Are the Signs of Morphine Addiction?
If you are taking morphine for pain as directed by your physician, you may become dependent on the drug at some point, but it is unlikely that you will become addicted. Misusing morphine by taking more than directed or taking the drug to achieve euphoric effects can quickly lead to morphine addiction. If you are worried that you might be addicted to morphine, some of the common signs include:
- You take morphine more frequently than prescribed by your doctor
- You take morphine in higher doses than prescribed
- You use morphine without a prescription
- You crush morphine to chew or snort it
- You dissolve morphine in water to inject it
- You crave the drug and feel sick when you do not have it
- You experience negative consequences from morphine use
Getting Help for an Opioid Use Disorder
It can be exhausting and even dangerous to maintain an addiction to pain medications. But you do not have to continue misusing morphine or any other opioid drug. At The Orlando Recovery Center, medical professionals can treat morphine addiction and other forms of opioid use disorder. You will have access to medication-assisted treatment and other types of evidence-based and holistic therapies in our facility.
Contact Orlando Recovery Center now to learn more about your options for addiction treatment.
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The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.