what is the origin or history of morphine

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History of Morphine and How to Deal with Opioid Epidemic
Morphine is an alkaloid obtained from opium, a poppy plant derivative. It treats chronic pain by blocking pain sensations, pacifying the nervous system, reducing heart rate, moderating respiration and reducing blood pressure. These effects allow the patient to feel pleasure and calm which is usually followed by falling asleep. Morphine is an opioid which has been used over the years to alleviate pain among patients. It was widely used in the 18th and 19th century as an analgesic. However, patients are usually at the risk of addiction and abuse. The drug is easy to access, and people like it because of its ability to induce euphoria. This study aims at describing the history of morphine and identifying possible solutions to the opioid epidemic.
DISCUSSION
History of Morphine. The discovery of morphine was inspired by pain struggles among patients. Before the discovery of morphine, chronic pain was treated with opium. However, it was not fully effective, which led to further opioid research and synthesis. After several experiments, Friedrich Serturner discovered a new compound which had effects of pain relief and euphoria and named it morphine (Mandal n.pag). However, Friedrich noted side effects like nausea, slowed breathing, vomiting, and constipation, blurred vision. This drug was rejected by the medical community initially but accepted later because of its practicality.
Over the years, morphine has been used to alleviate pain among patients.

However, patients including war veterans ended up developing a morphine addiction. At the same, time opium was being embraced as a drug for alleviating addiction for other stronger opioids. To tackle the morphine addition, pharmacists developed morphine sulfate tablets which help in reducing morphine dependence. This is by releasing morphine is small quantities while managing chronic pain. But still, patients use higher doses of morphine than the normal analgesic dose. According to Hanson, Venturelli, and Fleckenstein (306), morphine has been classified as a schedule II substance which means it has the potential for abuse and developing dependence. A continuous use can lead to increased tolerance.
Dealing with Opioid Epidemic. The provision of guidelines and regulations for prescribing opioids for chronic pain will help reduce the use of opioids like morphine. The recent federal registration has provided a supply limit for opioid prescriptions for relieving pain. A drug monitoring program also needs to be adopted among medical practitioners (Rummans, Burton and Dawson 348). There is a need to monitor how opioid medications are supplied to patients in order to regulate their use and tackle abuse.
Another solution is the adoption of opioid alternatives in treating chronic pain. These include non-opioid medications, ultra-sound guide nerve blocks and trigger point injections. They have the potential to treat acute pain related to headaches, kidney stones, bone fractures and back pain. Non-opioid medications work by targeting receptors which block pain sensations. This intervention is better than using opioids since it eliminates dependence.
There is a need to create awareness on the effects of opioid use through patient, family and community education. Therapists and public health entities should communicate “do’s and don’ts” to ensure patients take opioids as described. They should also encourage patients to reveal any signs of addiction to addiction specialists. Here, patients obtain non-opioid treatments both for pain and addiction. Community collaborations are effective in creating awareness and treating patients with drug abuse.
CONCLUSION
Morphine has been described as an opioid drug with euphoric and pain relief effects. It has been elemental in dealing with chronic pain since the 18th century. However, it is associated with drug abuse and dependence. Opioids like morphine are very effective in alleviating severe pain but can no longer be used as the first line of treatment due to their effects. Adopting alternative ways of dealing with chronic pain will help tackle the opioid crisis. The supply and use of opioids need to be monitored and reduced among patients. Opioid awareness will also help individuals take opioids like morphine responsibly.
Works Cited
Hanson, Glen, Peter Venturelli, and Annette Fleckenstein. Drugs and society. Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2011, https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=HCvrhJuBuWAC&oi=fnd&pg=PR1&dq=Hanson,+Glen,+Peter+Venturelli,+and+Annette+Fleckenstein.+Drugs+and+society.+Jones+%26+Bartlett+Publishers,+2011&ots=gtJOcmhzfw&sig=_efECcF-c5gXhmFmIpbruj3T9KQ. Accessed 23 August.2018.
Mandal, Ananya. “Morphine History.” News Medical, 27 October. 2013, www.news-medical.net/health/Morphine-History.aspx. Accessed 23 August. 2018.
Rummans, Teresa A., M. Caroline Burton, and Nancy L. Dawson. “How good intentions contributed to bad outcomes: The opioid crisis.” Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Vol. 93. No. 3. Elsevier, 2018, www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/S0025-6196(17) 30923-0/fulltext, Accessed 23 August.2018.