PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF OPIATE ADDICTION
Pathophysiology of Opiate addiction and Changes on the Body and Anesthesia Care Considerations
The topic that I chose to focus on is the pathophysiology of opiate addiction and the different changes that it brings in the body ones a patient becomes dependent on the drug. Opioids are potent pain killers, and they can easily make a patient dependent on them and thus causes addiction (Marcovitz, 2018). Opioids overdose can be fatal to the patient and has dire consequences, often leading to the death of the patient. The reason for choosing this topic is because the opioid is the reason why life expectancy in the United States of America has been dropping.
Opioid addiction has different symptoms; sometimes, the addiction depends on the intoxication level. For moderate intoxication, the patient suffers drowsiness and slurred speech, but for severe overdose, the patient suffers from respiratory depression and may even go into a coma (Olsen, 2019). The patients frequently relapse to the excessive use of the drug; this is because the drug is potent and available. In most cases, severe overdose can be fatal and leads to the death of the patient.
Upon being given to a healthy person, opioid does not provide its therapeutic function but rather makes the person a patient. The nurse needs to understand the progression of how the drug has been affecting the patient for there to be an effective treatment (Bisaga, 2018). Pathophysiology will help the nurse identify the extent to which the drug has affected the patient and therefore recommend the right treatment.
Opioid addiction may be fatal, but its treatment is available. The study of pathophysiology has helped in understanding different diseases and therefore giving the right treatment.
References
Bisaga, A.(2018)overcoming opioid addiction: The authoritative medical guide for patients, families.
Marcovitz, H., (2018). The opioid epidemic
Olsen, Y. (2019). The opioid epidemic
Spampinato, S. M., (2016). Opioid receptors. Place of publication not identified.
TMW media (Firm), (2018). Heroin and Opioid Addiction.