Morphine Addiction: Signs and Effects of Morphine Abuse

Morphine is a powerful prescription opioid painkiller commonly used to manage moderate to severe pain, especially after surgery, serious injury, or during cancer treatment. While it’s highly effective when used as directed, its potency also makes it a primary contributor to the nationwide opioid crisis. The line between safe use and prescription opioid abuse can blur quickly, especially with long-term use or misuse.

Understanding the nature of morphine addiction and all the effects of morphine is crucial for recognizing the warning signs of abuse early. Understanding how this drug impacts your body and mind can help prevent long-term damage and guide you toward recovery.

Morphine is a narcotic analgesic and a natural opioid like codeine. Semi-synthetic opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone and synthetic opioids like fentanyl and tramadol also have similar effects.

Morphine effectively reduces the perception of pain. It also interacts directly with your brain’s reward system, which is why it carries such a high risk for opioid addiction. When you take morphine, it binds to opioid receptors in your brain, triggering the release of dopamine—often called the “feel-good hormone” because it creates feelings of pleasure and well-being.

The surge in dopamine released when taking morphine reinforces the desire to keep using the drug because it makes you feel intensely happy or euphoric. When someone starts chasing that euphoric “high,” they tend to develop a tolerance and need to take more morphine more frequently to achieve the same feeling.

Doctors prescribe morphine for pain relief under controlled doses and strict supervision to monitor for tolerance and dependence. Recreational morphine abuse often involves taking the drug without a prescription in higher doses, more frequent use, or through methods that increase potency. Misuse elevates the risk of addiction and adverse health effects. Continued misuse alters brain chemistry over time, making it harder for your brain to feel pleasure without the drug, increasing physical and psychological dependence.

Morphine abuse and morphine addiction aren’t the same, though they’re closely connected. Opioid misuse refers to using morphine in ways not prescribed, such as taking higher doses, using someone else’s medication or using it to feel high. This kind of casual misuse can lead to chronic morphine abuse and, over time, full-blown addiction.

Addiction is a form of substance use disorder marked by compulsive use, even when it causes harm. It often involves both psychological and physical dependence. Understanding the difference between dependence vs. addiction helps clarify how misuse can spiral into something much more serious.

• Physical Dependence: With prolonged morphine use, the body adapts to the drug’s presence, leading to a tolerance that requires you to need more of the drug to achieve the same effect. Physical dependence also causes withdrawal symptoms when usage decreases or stops. Physical dependence can occur even with prescribed use but is even more likely when misused. ​
• Psychological Dependence: This refers to the emotional and mental aspects of addiction, where you feel a perceived need to use morphine to cope with stress, anxiety or other challenges. It involves intense cravings and a preoccupation with obtaining and using the drug, even when it results in negative consequences.

• Taking Higher Doses: Consuming more morphine than prescribed to manage pain can increase tolerance and dependence, increasing the risk of addiction.
• Using for Non-Medical Reasons: Taking morphine without a prescription or just to experience euphoria is misuse that can swiftly lead to substance use disorder. ​
• Combining with Other Substances: Mixing morphine with alcohol or other drugs to enhance effects is dangerous and can accelerate addiction.​

Recognizing these behaviors and understanding the progression from misuse to addiction is crucial. Early intervention can prevent the escalation of opioid misuse into a full-blown substance use disorder, emphasizing the importance of seeking medical advice when concerning behaviors occur.

Morphine can lead to tolerance and dependence, even when taken as prescribed. With long-term morphine use, the body develops opioid tolerance, meaning higher doses are needed to achieve the same pain-relieving effects. This escalation can result in prescription opioid dependence, where you experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop using the drug.

However, it’s important to distinguish between dependence and morphine addiction. Dependence refers to the body’s physiological adaptation to the drug, causing withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking morphine. It’s why your doctor tells you not to stop taking your prescription suddenly. Addiction is characterized by compulsive drug-seeking behavior despite negative consequences. While dependence can occur without addiction, the two often coexist.

Research from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) shows that long-term morphine use alters brain function by disrupting the brain’s natural reward system. Repeated exposure to opioids floods the brain with dopamine, which, over time, dulls the brain’s ability to release dopamine naturally.

This rewiring affects motivation, impulse control and stress response, making it harder to feel pleasure or regulate emotions without the drug. These changes can last long after you stop using morphine, increasing relapse risk and reinforcing both physical and psychological dependence.

Recognizing the signs of opioid addiction improves your chances of successful intervention and recovery. Morphine use disorder can show up in a mix of behavioral, physical and emotional changes that often become more noticeable over time.

• Doctor Shopping: Individuals may visit multiple healthcare providers to obtain additional prescriptions for morphine, often to support escalating use. This behavior is a red flag for prescription opioid misuse.
• Secrecy and Isolation: A tendency to avoid contact with family and friends, coupled with secretive behavior, can indicate substance use issues.
• Mood Swings: Sudden and unexplained changes in mood, such as increased irritability, nervousness or giddiness, are common behavioral indicators of morphine abuse.

• Drowsiness: Excessive sleepiness or nodding off at inappropriate times can result from morphine’s sedative effects. ​
• Respiratory Depression: Slowed or shallow breathing is a serious side effect of morphine use and can be life-threatening if not addressed promptly. ​
• Nausea and Vomiting: Gastrointestinal disturbances, including nausea and vomiting, are common physical opioid dependence symptoms associated with morphine use.

• Anxiety and Depression: Individuals may experience heightened anxiety, persistent sadness or a lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities or hobbies.
• Emotional Numbness: A diminished ability to experience emotions or a sense of detachment from reality can occur with prolonged morphine use. ​
• Cognitive Impairment: Difficulty concentrating, memory lapses and impaired judgment are potential psychological effects of morphine addiction. ​

These are but a few of the signs of morphine addiction. If you or someone you know is exhibiting these or other opioid dependence symptoms, it’s essential to seek professional help right away.

Discontinuing morphine, especially after prolonged use, can lead to withdrawal symptoms as your body adjusts to the absence of the drug. These symptoms can be challenging. The morphine withdrawal timeline includes:

• Early Symptoms: Initial opioid withdrawal effects typically occur about 12 hours after your last dose but can begin sooner. Common withdrawal symptoms in this stage include drug cravings, anxiety, muscle pain, insomnia, runny nose, excessive sweating and sleepiness.
• Late Symptoms: As withdrawal progresses, you may experience worsening symptoms, such as abdominal cramping, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, hot flashes or chills, muscle spasms and increased blood pressure and pulse.

The duration and intensity of opioid detox symptoms vary by person, dosage and how long you took morphine.​ In addition to physical discomfort, withdrawal can impact you psychologically. Mental health issues can include heightened anxiety, depression, mood swings and cognitive disturbances.

Persistent psychological challenges can contribute to the risk of relapse if not adequately addressed. Relapse increases your risk of overdose, especially if you stop using morphine for some time before returning to using it. Given the complexities of morphine withdrawal, it’s advisable to seek medical supervision during the detoxification process.

Morphine has numerous side effects. Some may be desired, such as euphoria and pain relief. Others can be unpleasant or even hazardous to your health. Side effects of morphine abuse can be classified as short-term or long-term.

• Short-Term Morphine Abuse Effects: Short-term effects occur immediately after morphine use. These can include drowsiness, constipation and respiratory depression (dangerously slow or shallow breathing).
• Long-Term Morphine Abuse Effects: Long-term effects occur after repeated or extended use. Chronic morphine abuse effects can include severe health complications, such as liver, kidney and other organ damage. Prolonged misuse is also associated with an increased risk of mental health disorders.

Extended morphine use can lead to opioid toxicity, not to be confused with opioid overdose. Toxicity occurs over time and is typically unintentional, while overdose happens suddenly when you consume too much. Toxicity can cause severe respiratory depression that can result in hypoxia, leading to coma or death if untreated. Overdose can be accidental or intentional and is often fatal if untreated.

​A combination of genetic, psychological and environmental risk factors influences morphine addiction. Understanding risk factors for opioid addiction can help identify whether you or someone you love may be more susceptible to opioid or another chronic pain medication addiction.​

Research indicates that genetics play a significant role in the development of opioid addiction. Two studies determined that approximately 54% of the vulnerability to opioid addiction can be traced to genetic factors. Variations in specific genes have been associated with differences in how individuals respond to opioids, potentially influencing genetic addiction risk.

Mental health and substance abuse often coexist, commonly referred to as a dual diagnosis. Studies have shown that individuals with mental health disorders are at a higher risk for developing substance use disorders and dual diagnosis risk. Co-occurring substance use and mental disorders are common among adults with opioid use disorder.

Environmental influences can also significantly contribute to the risk of morphine addiction. Social circles that encourage or normalize drug use can increase the likelihood of abusing opioids through peer pressure. If you suffer from chronic pain, you may have been prescribed morphine for extended periods. This long-term use can lead to tolerance, dependence and addiction, especially if you begin taking more than prescribed.

If you or someone you know has a family history of addiction, mental health disorder or chronic pain that could predispose a person to morphine addiction, watch for signs of substance abuse.

Diagnosing opioid addiction, clinically referred to as opioid use disorder (OUD), involves a comprehensive evaluation based on established criteria and the use of specific screening tools used by healthcare providers. A substance use assessment could lead to an opioid addiction diagnosis for morphine abuse.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), outlines specific criteria for diagnosing OUD for morphine addiction. A diagnosis requires the presence of at least two of the following 11 symptoms within a 12-month period:

1. Taking morphine in larger amounts or over a longer period than intended
2. Persistent desire for morphine or unsuccessful attempts to cut down or control use
3. Spending a great deal of time obtaining, using or recovering from using morphine
4. Craving or intense urges to use morphine
5. Recurring use that results in failing to fulfill major obligations at home, school or work
6. Continuing to use morphine despite having ongoing social or interpersonal problems caused by or made worse by using morphine
7. Giving up or reducing important social, recreational or work activities because of morphine use
8. Repeated morphine use in physically hazardous situations
9. Continuing to use morphine despite knowing about recurring physical or psychological problems likely caused or made worse by the drug
10. Tolerance, as defined by either a need for markedly increased amounts of opioids to achieve the desired effect or a markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount (except under appropriate medical supervision)
11. Withdrawal exhibited by opioid withdrawal syndrome or taking morphine to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms

The severity of an OUD is classified based on the number of criteria met and is broken down by the following scale:​

• Mild: 2 to 3 symptoms
• Moderate: 4 to 5 symptoms
• Severe: 6 or more symptoms

Healthcare professionals employ various screening tools to assess the risk and presence of opioid addiction. These tools make early detection possible and inform treatment planning. Common tools include:​

• Opioid Risk Tool: A brief, self-report screening tool designed to predict the potential for opioid abuse in patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain. It assesses personal and family history of substance abuse, age, history of preadolescent sexual abuse, psychological diseases and other factors.
• Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment: An evidence-based approach that includes screening for substance use disorders, delivering brief interventions and referring individuals to treatment when necessary.​
• Drug Abuse Screening Test: A self-report instrument that assesses drug use and related problems. It’s useful in various settings and helps identify individuals who may benefit from a more detailed assessment.​

It’s important to note that no single tool is definitive. These assessments are most effective when combined with a comprehensive clinical evaluation, including patient history and biological testing when appropriate.

Early diagnosis and intervention in cases of morphine addiction are vital for improved treatment outcomes, prevention of complications and enhanced quality of life. Healthcare providers can be crucial in identifying at-risk individuals and facilitating access to effective treatment and support services.

If you or someone you care about is struggling with morphine addiction, know that you’re not alone and recovery is possible. Morphine addiction is a medical condition that requires professional support and guidance for lasting recovery. Medical detox, counseling and long-term care can address the physical and psychological sides of addiction.

RehabNet makes it easier for you to find help for opioid addiction. We offer free, confidential assistance and connect you with trusted rehab resources for opioid users. Whether you need an inpatient treatment center, outpatient therapy or dual diagnosis treatment, we’ll help you find the right support for morphine addiction.

Contact RehabNet for addiction support and take your first step toward recovery today.