Opiates: Uses, Side Effects, and Risks

Introduction 

Opiates are drugs that contain opium or the derivatives of the same, which are used in medicine to relieve pain from a patient to induce sleep. Donovan and Marlatt (2008), describe an opiate as a narcotic opioid alkaloid that is found in opium. The alkaloids are derived from the sap of the opium poppy, with the most active substance in it being morphine. Other active opiates are inclusive of thebaine, papaverine, and codeine (Donovan & Marlatt, 2008). Even though these active opiates can be derived from the naturally from opium, it is possible to make synthetic codeine, which is a relatively less powerful than the other active opiates. Even though people opiates are primarily used for medicinal purposes, others use it for recreational reasons. Those that use opiates for recreation are highly likely to become addicted to the components of the drug.

Based on the provisions identified, it would be fundamental to cover different aspects of the use and effects of opiates from the past to today. In this light, an important consideration would be to focus on the historical perspectives attached, which include the reasons and the way in which the narcotic was used. The other element that would be important to include is the manner in which the use of opiates affects the criminal justice system. The need to address the use of opiates in relation to the criminal justice system emanates from the provision that the justice system considers addiction as one of the root causes of problems in the society. On the other hand, the continued use of the drug has future implications, which is an element that calls for the need for recommendations regarding the best way to prevent or take care of the issues brought about by opiates addiction.

Historical Perspective 

After the discovery of opium, which was used to extract morphine in the early 19th century, medical practitioners were providing the drug to their patients to relieve them from the pain that they were having. Years before Friedrich Sertuner could isolate morphine from the opium plant, Greeks and Romans living in the ancient times were already aware that opium could be used for pain relief and for treating some ailments (Petrovska, 2012). However, after the discovery of morphine, a considerable number of people, particularly during the American Civil war, were using it for medicinal purposes (Drugfreeworld.org, n.d). This period saw a significant number of soldiers getting addicted to the substance. Even though opium was being used to prepare an alcoholic solution in the 16th century, the alkaloid codeine, isolated by Jean-Pierre Robiquet, was used primarily as a cough remedy (Drugfreeworld.org, n.d).

After the realization that morphine was increasingly becoming addictive, chemists made heroin. They were focused on finding something that was not addictive as morphine. However, the substitute drug was not the solution since heroin addiction grew to be a serious issue. Regardless of the subsequent developments, in the year 1905, the US Congress banned opium in the nation, leading to the passage of the Food and Drug Act a year later. This act required pharmaceutical and drug manufacturing companies to label the content of their medicines. In spite of these developments, it is now possible for chemists to make synthetic opiates that can be used to manufacture drugs for medical purposes. As with any other prescription drug, opiates are highly addictive. Even though some opiate types might not be addictive, it would be essential for an individual to take them under the advice of a physician.

How the Use of Opiates Affects the Criminal Justice System 

The issue brought about by the use and addiction to opiates is legitimate, and has negative individual as well as social effects. According to Scot DuFour (2016), violence, crime, and societal issues are somehow influenced by individuals using and abusing opiates. Traditionally, the users were either jailed for using opiates. The traditional jurisprudence fundamental concern is to enforce the law, consequently punishing individuals that do not comply (DuFour, 2016). While incarcerated, opiate addicts have limited access to the drugs. This provision indicates that the traditional criminal justice system, which includes drug courts, does not only focus on ensuring that lawbreakers are punished, but also ensures that the addicts have limited access to the drugs. Even though this method can be effective in reducing the abuse of opiates, it is ineffective since the released prisoners might find themselves using the drugs once they are out of jail.

Regardless of the reasoning behind the need to lock up opiate users, the justice system plays a significant role in protecting addicts to accidental overdose. Conversely, the justice system plays a vital role in ensuring that the addicts receive appropriate and medically assisted treatment. Even though it is possible to find evidence indicating that using medication to treat opiate addiction is likely to be effective, a considerable number of jails underutilize the medication-assisted treatments. The underutilization of this type of treatment is to the detriment of the numerous vulnerable people. For this reason, some of the released prisoners might return to their previous levels of using the opiates, consequently facing the risk of possible overdose.

Future Implications of this Issue 

There has been an increase in opioid prescriptions as well as the rate of deaths associated with opioid overdose (Shapiro, 2016). The number of prescriptions, as well as deaths associated with opiate overdose, has increased significantly for the past two decades. Coupled with the risks attached to pill diversion and over-prescription, it is possible to indicate that evaluating the manner in which healthcare providers address the issue of pain management is fundamental. The diversion brought about by opioid pain medications can lead to an unwanted epidemic. The prescribing practices used by physicians could be fueling this situation. Opioid medication has come out as a primary player in public health, which brings about undesirable implications for the health of the people as well as their future well-being. For this reason, the issue has a considerable number of implications for pain management in future.

The future implications are inclusive of the provision that different health organizations are releasing prescribing guidelines and educational programs on the risks and benefits attached to using opioids. The initiatives point towards the idea that researchers are moving towards developing legitimate alternatives to the standard therapies being used for pain management. In this case, the presumption is that the new approaches to pain management could assist in mitigating some of the risks associated with taking opioids. Conversely, their discoveries could lead to the reduction of the amount of opioid medication flowing in the market, which is essential for waging war against pain in a more effective manner.

Personal Views or Recommendations Regarding the Issue 

Considering the significant increase in the number of deaths brought about by opiate addiction, it would be vital to promote strategies or programs that can assist in taking care of the situation. The fundamental reason for the increase in the number of opiate-related deaths is the increase in the number of prescriptions provided by physicians, consequently increasing the availability of addictive painkillers. On the other hand, certain populations, particularly the ones involved in the nation’s criminal justice system, are vulnerable to overdose once they leave jail and get back to their drug-taking ways. This situation is indicative of the need to improve access to the effective treatment of opiate addiction for every citizen. Conversely, it would be vital for the government to remedy historical biases against addicted individuals, consequently treating them adequately.

In this light, a suitable recommendation would be to incorporate treatment programs into the justice system, consequently viewing rehabilitation as an intrinsic element of the system. If the objective of the judicial system is to deter drug use in future, there is a reason to believe that taking tough attitudes and actions to individuals convicted of abusing opiates would not work as desired. Since the goals and policies formed against the use of opiates have not been successful in the past, it is not possible to assume that they will work if they are not changed. For this reason, it would be vital to use the drug court programs to ensure there are efficient to achieve the goals desired by the justice system, since the programs specifically relate to drugs.

References

Donovan, D. M., & Marlatt, G. A. (2008).  Assessment of addictive behaviors . New York: Guilford.

Drugfreeworld.org.  Watch Truth About Drugs Documentary Video & Learn About Substance Addiction. Get The Facts About Painkillers, Marijuana, Cocaine, Meth & Other Illegal Drugs. .  Foundation for a Drug-Free World . Retrieved 9 November 2017, from http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/painkillers/a-short-history.html.

DuFour, S. (2017). Perpetuating the Cycle: Opioid Addiction and the Criminal Justice System.  Inquiries Journal ,  8 (7), 1-2.

Petrovska, B. (2012). Historical review of medicinal plants′ usage.  Pharmacognosy Reviews ,  6 (11), 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.95849

Shapiro, K. (2016).  Opioids and the Future of Pain Management .  Frontiersmag.wustl.edu . Retrieved 9 November 2017, from http://frontiersmag.wustl.edu/2016/10/31/opioids-and-the-future-of-pain-management/