Morphine addiction, and a mental health question....?

My girl friend has been taking morphine for over a year. I have been dating her for 4 months, and she has tried to quit twice that I know of. She does not have a perscription, she gets it from a friend that has a perscription. I would like to know the dangers in useing morphine? And in quiting, Like side effects when you stop taking it?

I think she started taking it when she had a very tramatic thing happen to her, she was braking up with her boyfriend, and they were talking on the phone a day or two later and she told him again it was over and he killed himself while they were talking on the phone. She is going to a theripist and seems to be dealing with it as well as can be expected...

I can see clearly why she is having a problem with commitment with me... but I wonder if there are other issues and problems I may not be seeing? I care for her very much! Is there anything I can or should be doing to help her?

Thank you.

Don

[HFHS M.D.-SW]

Dear Don,

Morphine is an opiod, which is used to treat pain. When used as an analgesic it rarely becomes addictive.  When the user is not in pain, they feel euphoric with a heighten sense of self. After frequent use it may become an addiction.

The symptoms of Morphine withdrawl (withdrawal) may start with anxiety, restlessness, than muscle pain, chills, headache, later insomnia, loss of energy and appetite.

I am unsure of what you should do, but showing suppport and care may be helpful for her.

Best Wishes to you and your girlfriend.


HFHS M.D.-SW

[Brandy5]

I had sustained two spinal fusions, L 3,4,5,S1, Failed Back Syndrom (syndrome).  I have been on morphine every day for the last five years lately my perscriptions have not arrived on time from my treating physician and I have become so angry with his staff that he said he would not see me as a patient any more.  I asked for a referal to another Pain Management Clinic, from one hospital to another.  The new pain management clinic had said that before they could schedual an appointment they requested that I see their staff Psychiatrist , why do you think that is?  I am a graduate student in the field of Psychology and I feel I am educated and aware of my anger but what are they thinking when their are interruptions in morphine meds, dosent't the body crave this med and when not given it on a regular basis dosen't pain manifest itself as anger?  Isn't this a normal Flight or Fight response?   ESL