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McKesson Clinical Reference Systems: Women's Health Advisor 2002.2
Spanish version
Narcotic Drug Dependence
What is narcotic drug dependence?
Narcotics change your response to sensations. Narcotics
also produce mood changes, unconsciousness, or deep sleep.
Examples of narcotics are heroin, codeine, morphine, and
methadone. The primary medical use of these drugs is to
reduce pain.
When taken over time to reduce pain or for the pleasant,
drowsy, floating feeling they give, narcotics may make you
dependent or addicted. Also, if you take these drugs
repeatedly you may develop a tolerance to them. Tolerance
means you need to take ever higher doses of the drug to
produce the same effects.
If you are dependent on a drug, you feel or show a need for
the drug when it is stopped. If you crave the drug, or feel
distressed without it, you are psychologically dependent.
If you have bodily changes when the drug is stopped, such as
hot and cold flashes or tremors, you are physically
dependent.
How does it occur?
The factors that increase your risk of dependence include:
- personality (such as low self-esteem, and being easily
frustrated)
- environment (such as places or objects you associate with
drug use)
- psychological factors (such as stress, depression, or
loneliness)
- whether it runs in your family
- your biological response to drugs
- the addictive qualities of narcotic drugs.
What are the symptoms?
Besides causing feelings of well-being and reducing pain,
narcotic drug use may cause:
- constipation
- nausea
- flushing
- low or high blood pressure
- slowed thinking and movement
- slurred speech
- confusion, poor judgment, decreased memory
- slow breathing
- needle marks on the skin
- itching skin
- small pupils.
Sometimes you may have symptoms of shock, such as weakness
and pale skin.
How is it diagnosed?
Your health care provider will take a complete history and
examine you. A sample of your urine may be tested for drug
use.
Your health care provider may test you for narcotic abuse by
injecting a drug called naloxone hydrochloride into one of
your muscles and recording your body's response. If you are
using narcotics, your test will show some of the signs of a
withdrawal reaction, including:
- faster pulse
- lower body temperature
- larger pupils
- sweating
- watery eyes
- high blood pressure
- yawning
- insomnia
- muscle aches
- runny nose
- diarrhea
- chest hair standing up
- craving for a narcotic.
How is it treated?
If you have taken an overdose and have trouble breathing,
the health care provider will clear your airway and keep it
open with a breathing tube. You may need treatment in the
intensive care unit in the hospital. When you're breathing
normally, the health care provider will give you a shot of
naloxone hydrochloride and watch you for 48 hours. Naloxone
hydrochloride blocks the effects of a narcotic overdose.
Your health care provider or counselor will help you to admit
that you have a drug problem. He or she will also help you
identify the stresses in your life and find ways to better
handle stress and anxiety.
Your health care provider will recommend community
self-help groups, usually led by former addicts, as well as
individual counseling for you. Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
offers outpatient treatment but cannot take the place of
starting your treatment at a hospital.
Your treatment program will emphasize staying away from all
narcotic drugs and other drugs of abuse for the rest of your
life. Depending on your particular situation, treatment
with methadone may also be part of the program.
Parents, family, and friends should attend counseling
sessions to form a support group. These sessions will
encourage speaking about feelings. You may also get
information about nutrition, exercise, relaxation, and deep
breathing techniques.
How long will the effects last?
If you are or have been addicted or dependent on a drug,
admit that you have a drug problem. Avoid substances that
could become addictive. Recovery from narcotic dependence
can be a long-term process.
How can I take care of myself?
Follow your health care provider's treatment plan. In
addition:
- Find resources to help you cope with problems and try
to reduce stress in your life.
- Seek counseling for emotional problems.
- Join a self-help group such as Narcotics Anonymous.
- Develop social activities.
- Exercise on a regular basis and eat well for general good
health.
- Follow your health care provider's advice for treatment
of any other medical problems.
How can I help prevent narcotic drug dependence?
- Stay away from illegal drugs.
- Do not borrow other people's medications.
- Use prescription drugs exactly as your health care
provider directs.
- Try to take the lowest dose possible of narcotics
prescribed for pain.
For more information, contact the National Mental Health
Association (NMHA). NMHA's toll-free Information Center
number is 1-800-969-NMHA. NMHA's Web site address is
http://www.NMHA.org.
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