Write A Literature Review On Opioids

Literature Review

Introduction

Opioids are naturally occurring (opium poppy extracts) and synthetic drugs that are commonly used for their analgesic and cough-suppressing properties (Fisher & Harrison, 2013). Opium was used by early Egyptian, Greek, and Arabic cultures for the treatment of diarrhea primarily since there is a constipating effect to this drug. According to Fisher & Harrison (2013), Greek and Roman writers, such as Homer and Virgil wrote of the sleep-inducing properties of opium, and recreational use of the drug in these cultures did occur (Fisher & Harrison, 2013, p.24). Morphine was also created from opium. This drug was isolated from opium in the early 1800’s and was widely available without prescription until the early 1900’s when the nonmedical use of opioids was banned (Fisher & Harrison, 2013).

Today, heroin accounted for 10% of drug abuse–related emergency room episodes for illicit drugs in 2007 while other opioids were involved in nearly half of emergency room visits for nonmedical pharmaceuticals (Fisher & Harrison,

It is clear that our society has a problem with prescription drugs. Approximately 1.9 million Americans met criteria for Rx painkillers use disorder based on their use of Rx painkillers in the past year (NSDUH, 2014). It is devastating that we have some many individuals suffering from this hydrocodone epidemic. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2014), 1.4 million people used Rx painkillers nonmedically for the first time in the past year. This has become a great problem and it is clear that we need to help reduce the harm from this addiction. The average age for Rx painkiller first-time use was 21.2 in the past year (NSDUH, 2014). The need for harm reduction and prevention is clear, but how can we start? I will discuss this further after my literature