THE MISUSE OF NARCOTIC USAGE

The Misuse of Narcotic Usage

The Misuse of Narcotic Usage

Introduction

Narcotics are certain drugs that are used to reduce or remove a very severe pain (very sharp). Opiates are also called opioids. Some common names for the drugs that doctors prescribe are codeine and morphine. Heroin is an illegal narcotic (street drug) in the United States and is a derivative of morphine. The continued and repeated use of narcotics can lead to legal problems and difficulties in relationships in your workplace. You can become a dependent on narcotics. You can also become tolerant to its effects. This means that whenever you need more narcotics to feel like, or feel the effects of narcotics are lower even when consuming the same amount of them. You may also have narcotic intoxication or withdrawal symptoms present. These conditions can lead to serious physical and mental problems, or may even lead to death. If you or someone known to you abuses the drug, tell your doctor and get help.

Receptors and Mechanism of Action

Opiates produce their pharmacological effects, therapeutic and adverse effects by stimulating specific receptors on the cell membrane there are three types: mu (µ, with two subtypes µ 1 and µ 2), kappa (k) and delta (d). (Winters, 2007)These are widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous system, predominantly in areas associated with pain transmission. In addition, there are receptors in the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system and adrenal glands. Narcotics are classified according to their mechanism of action:

1) Pure agonists: effects determined by type and location of receptor stimulation.

2) Partial agonists: intrinsic activity less interceptors' µ, and clinical effects of lesser magnitude.

3) Agonist-antagonistic action mixed with agonist activity in one type of receptor and antagonist in another.

4) Pure antagonists that displace receptor agonists, with reversal of clinical effect in a dose-dependent.

General Pharmacology

Narcotics have pharmacological effects mainly in the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. Analgesia, which have the classic effect and it is mostly studied, is produced by action of the drug to supraspinal and spinal level, inhibiting transmission of pain and associated emotional and affective components. Stimulation of µ receptors located on pain pathways to produce analgesia more power (Stone, 2003).

Supra-spinal action of narcotics is also associated with sedation, drowsiness, dizziness and euphoria. Stimulation of opioid receptors located in the brain stem causes a decrease in the sensitivity of the respiratory center to CO2, with a decrease in respiratory rate and tidal volume. This effect is primarily mediated by µ receptors, namely µ 2. (Sorensen, 2000) In the central nervous system, narcotic receptors directly stimulate the vomiting triggering zone, and through it, activate the vomiting center, also sensitize the vestibular (VIII pair) motion-induced emesis. In addition, probably by central action, can produce muscular rigidity of the abdomen and chest, usually appears after effect of high doses and / or rapid intravenous administration. (MacCoun, 2001)

During the administration of narcotics may develop tolerance, defined as the need to increase the dose to achieve the same clinical effect in the absence of ...