The Effects of Morphine Abuse: Social and Physical Impacts

The effects of morphine abuse can be highly detrimental both socially and physically.

Other than costing an abuser $100-$200 a day, the effects of morphine abuse can cause users to not be aware of their surroundings and lose their ability to think. This can lead to some socially embarrassing situations and even despondence. On the other hand, the high cost of morphine can often lead addicts to resort to illegal activities to support their habit. Likewise, since another one of the effects of morphine abuse is an increased tolerance to the drug, the user is forced to increase his/her dosage over time. Not only can this lead to the illegal activity already mentioned, but it can also lead to an overdose.

The Effects of Morphine Abuse

While morphine is known for its ability to relieve pain, anxiety and fear, and sometimes cause dream-like hallucinations, the effects of morphine abuse are much more negative in scope. Among the physical effects of morphine abuse such as constipation, chills, anxiety, abdominal pain, nausea, headaches, depression, loss of coordination, and many others, when a user does not get his/her fix, withdrawal ensues.

Withdrawal can be one of the harshest effects of morphine abuse. It can cause tremors, dysphoria (the opposite of euphoria), gastrointestinal problems, and several other unstable symptoms. Furthermore, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have shown that there is a strong correlation between morphine (and morphine withdrawal) and the progression of Hepatitis C in those who suffer from it.

Essentially, despite the fact that properly taken morphine offers comfort and relief for many people, the effects of morphine abuse can damage one's body, one's mind, and one's life.