Opiate Addiction - 1214 Words

A. Identify a Social Problem The social effects of opiate addiction are felt by those who may have never even seen more than an image of heroin. For example; â€Å"In an early study, for example, Inciardi reported that a cohort of 239 male heroin addicts from Miami committed 80,644 criminal acts during the 12 months before being interviewed (Inciardi, 1979).†. (Strain and Stitzer, 2006) In part, this is due to the problems associated with the severe withdrawal symptoms that begin about 18 hours after the last use, and the result that addicts will do almost anything to avoid them. These include sweating, vomiting, insomnia, cold sweats, pain in the limbs, yawning, sneezing, severe bone and muscle aches, diarrhea, stomach cramps†¦show more content†¦of HHS, pg. 20) It appears fairly obvious that the use of methadone can create a much greater propensity for the desired result than have other modalities. I would assert that the use of methadone, especially early in one’s addict ion, can help guide the addict into a mainstream lifestyle; rather than into a lifestyle of shame and perpetual punishment. The current treatment option of criminalizing addicts can be implemented still in the potentially rare instances that there may be those unwilling to disengage from current undesirable lifestyles. D.What should the role of social work be in responding/intervening with the problem? The primary intent regarding addiction from the social work perspective should be to help the general public understand that persons addicted to opioids, much the same as victims of any chronic relapsing disease, deserve to be treated with compassion and respect as they seek access to medical treatment for their disease. Having that foundation, the use of methadone can be a very efficient, non threatening alternative treatment. Social services should be meaningfully incorporated into the process at the onset of one becoming involved in the legal system by way of addiction. Policies and procedures that greatly enhance the assessment, intervention, and treatment of addiction should be as visible and available as the authority figure prominently appears inShow MoreRelatedOpiate Drugs And Opiate Addiction1205 Words   |  5 PagesSince their development, Opiate painkillers have proved invaluable in the healthcare industry. The need for analgesia has been prevalent since the beginning of time itself and opium has been used as early as Ancient China and fought over in wars such as the Opium Wars. More modernly, this substance has been synthesized for potency and purity in achieving the ultimate pain reliever. It exists in drugs today such as OxyContin, Norco, Percocet, morphine, Dilaudid, Opana, and Demerol. In addition toRead MoreThe Treatment Of Heroin And Opiate Addiction1657 Words   |  7 Pagesin society, there has been a huge rise in the amount of deaths due to heroin overdose and addiction. Heroin and opiate addiction is something that needs to be recognized within our society in order to help protect one another. In this essay, I will explore the different methods of treatment, health insurance issues, and how the addicts affect the society. Information involving treatment for heroin and opiate addicts needs to be more prevalent in society because we do not hear much about how to treatRead MoreUltra Rapid Detox : Opiate Addiction1094 Words   |  5 Pag esULTRA RAPID DETOX Opiate Addiction Regarding my research, I will first be covering what Ultra Rapid Detox is, how it is done, I will be explaining the procedures step by step, the advantages and disadvantages and who is currently performing this procedure, followed by Manitoba’s medical insurance plan coverage on Ultra Rapid Detox. What is Ultra Rapid Detox? Ultra Rapid Detox is a technique that uses general anesthesia to reduce the intensity of withdrawal. It is experimental and its effectivenessRead MoreOpiate Addiction : Opiate Abuse And Addiction859 Words   |  4 PagesOpiate Addiction Opiate abuse and addiction destroys the lives of many people. These drugs are generally used for pain management, but are often misused and abused. This research paper will define the action of opioids, drug categories, withdrawal symptoms, and treatment options that are available. Opioids Opioids are prescribed to treat moderate- to-severe pain following surgeries, individuals with chronic pain, cancer patients, or for dental pain. These drugs alter the perception and response toRead MoreWe Must Stop The Opiate Addiction2551 Words   |  11 Pagespeople are concerned and feel empathy for the person, but when someone is diagnosed with an addiction to drugs they are faced with alienation and ridicule? It should be treated as the disease it is, and not as though it is a choice. The perceptions that still linger in our society about addicts are unfortunate, despite the decades of scientific research soundly disproving those views. The numbers of opiate addicts are increasing steadily every year. Clearly there is a much larger issue at hand. AddictsRead MoreThe Video Opiate Addiction : Understanding Replacement Therapy Essay952 Words   |  4 PagesIn the video Opiate Addiction: Understanding Replacement Therapy, Scott Farnum talks about methadone replacement therapy. There were many topics covered in this video and the topics were introduced in a psychoeducational format. The topics covered included a brief history opioids, brain chemistry, post acute withdrawal syndrome, abstinence based treatment programs verses harm reduction, and how an individual asses the damages of opioids on the brain. As a counselor in training, I found all the informationRead MoreAddiction : The Opiate Addiction Crisis921 Words   |  4 Pages The opiate addiction crisis in the US In recent years, chronic pain has been affecting millions of Americans. Whether it is headaches or backaches, chronic pain can be continuous and excruciating for many. Pain management and relief have been mainly treated with prescriptions of opiates. However, people don’t realize that the number of deaths caused by over dosing has increased. This prevalence of prescribing opiates to aid chronic pain has triggered an addiction problem across the US. AlthoughRead MoreThe Treatment Of Opiate Addiction1334 Words   |  6 PagesToday I visited a treatment facility in Dayton OH. On James H Mcgee Blvd. This is a methadone based facility that has more than 800 clients currently receiving a daily regime of methadone; this is an agonist substance used in the treatment of opiate addiction. My interview today is with Lakisha Russell, a Licensed Social Worker: she also carries a MHT degree and a LCDC III. Furthermore acquiring a portion of this education at Sinclair. Lakisha is currently employed by Project Cure, as a chemicalRead MoreEssay on Opium (Papaver somniferum)1317 Words   |  6 Pagesgrown other then the opium poppy, mostly for seasonings, oil, birdseed and attractive flowers. The poppy plants produce natural opiates. An opiate is defined as the drug derived from the opium poppy and are found in the milky substance extracted from the unripe seeds. The opiates are the best known narcotics. There are twenty different alkaloids derived from the opiates. Codeine and Morphine are the ones that are still in widespread use today. Codeine is a milder form of morphine and both are usedRead MoreFinal Project Proposal Draft On Opiate Use Disorder2479 Words   |  10 Pages Final Project Proposal Draft Chad Rhoden NGR7779C Introduction Opiate use disorder is an epidemic, and continues to be a growing problem. It is defined as the overuse of opiate medication, which can be prescribed or obtained illegally (Lin, Bohnert, Price, Jannausch, Bonar, and Ilgen, 2015). Sobriety continues to be a struggle for patients. This is true for those who have completed inpatient treatment as well. The documented pattern in this disorder is that multiple