It is not unusual for drug users to develop code names, also called slang or street names to avoid suspicion and detection. Street names are often a description of the drug they stand for, making it easier for drug dealers to pass merchandise along without being suspected.
For example, morphine comes in white tablets so the tablets are often called the white lady. Morphine tablets can also be ground into powder for snorting or intravenous intake and are also known as salt and sugar. Morphine begins with the letter “m,” so Miss Emma or Aunt Emma has become a common slang.1
Other slang names for morphine include:
- Mister blue
- Morpho
- Dreamer
- God’s drug
Effects of Morphine on the Mind
Morphine is a potent painkiller, and as a derivative of the opium poppy has many effects on the mind. Morphine changes the way the body perceives pain and also causes feelings of euphoria in the user. Morphine is a controlled substance and using the drug in ways other than prescribed by a physician can lead to addiction.
Some additional side effects of morphine include:
- Slowed heartbeat
- Difficulty breathing
- Severe headache and dizziness
- Seizures
- Convulsions2
More about Morphine
Morphine has had a long history of use as a painkiller. Since it was first isolated in Germany in 1803, it has been used medically to treat various illnesses, particularly for pain relief and for controlling opium addiction.3 Today, the drug is available in many generic forms by prescription. It is also used in hospitals as a means to manage pain.
The relative availability of morphine has made it one of the more commonly abused drugs in some parts of the world. If a user does not get it through illicit means, he or she can take a few tablets from a friend who uses it for pain management or steal the medication from another person’s medicine cabinet.
Prescription Morphine
While most physicians are extremely effective diagnosticians and professional, knowledgeable, and compassionate caregivers, there is no way that they can be conversant on every prescribed medication that the pharmaceutical industry produces. Therefore, they rely on pharmaceutical guides when selecting and dosing a medication, as well as the experience of their other patients’ results with the medication.
That strategy is effective until a person starts abusing the medication by doing one or several of the following:
- Increasing the prescribed dosage to get the results they want
- Mixing drugs
- Doctor/pharmacy shopping
- Obtaining the prescription through illegal means4
If you or someone you know is engaging in any of these dangerous behaviors, it’s time to get help.
Morphine Addiction
Most often a person is prescribed morphine to treat extreme pain. People who live with chronic pain learn to manage that pain by using a combination of prescription opioids and over-the-counter medications. For short-term pain management, such as after surgery or because of an injury, weaning off opioids like morphine is an important part of preventing dependence on the drug. Friends and loved ones can help with this process by managing how much pain medication has been used and encouraging the use of other alternatives when the pain is under good control.
It’s also important to make sure that the person is taking only the prescribed amount at the proper intervals, rather than needing more before the next dose is due. This is key in helping a friend or loved one eventually wean off the medication. Pain is not just a physical condition; it also brings about emotional, psychological and mental concerns. Being aware of all aspects of the patient’s state of being is also helpful because you can seek assistance to treat these other conditions that are often associated with pain.
Addiction to morphine occurs primarily because of tolerance or physical dependency. By monitoring the morphine consumption, you can help your friend or loved one avoid tolerance. If you notice that the prescribed dosage is not giving the person the same pain control, seek professional help from the physician to determine if there is a solution other than increasing the dosage.
While scientists and medical professionals hold morphine as the standard for the effective relief of pain, the patient and his or her support system must be diligent so that addiction can be avoided.
Finding Help for Morphine Addiction
If you or someone you know has access to morphine and is abusing it beyond a medically prescribed reason, contact our toll-free helpline at 269.280.4673. We are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions about morphine addiction and treatment.
Sources
1 “What Are Opioids? List of Opioids – Opioid Drugs & Medications – Drug-Free World.” Foundation for a Drug-Free World. Accessed May 25, 2018.
2 “Morphine: MedlinePlus Drug Information.” MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, May 2017.
3 “Heroin, Morphine and Opiates.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 2017.
4 “Drug Abuse and Addiction: Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Drug Addiction.” Helpguide.org, May 2018.