Last Updated:

May 16th, 2025

Morphine Addiction | Symptoms, Effects and Causes

For centuries, morphine has been used across the globe for its powerful pain-relieving capabilities. However, these potent effects also make morphine a drug with a high potential for abuse, leading to serious issues like morphine addiction and overdose. Sometimes, these can have deadly consequences, and in 2021, the UK saw a record high of 1,337 deaths related to morphine and heroin poisoning. Recognising the risks associated with morphine and providing help to those struggling with addiction is crucial for avoiding more tragic deaths.

morphine-lequide-in-tube

What is morphine?

Morphine is a naturally occurring opioid that is extracted from the opium poppy plant. It has extensive medical uses and is particularly effective in controlling severe pain following surgery and in chronic conditions.

Instead of addressing the pain at its origin, morphine works by altering how the brain perceives pain so you don’t experience it as acutely. In end-of-life care, morphine can also play a vital role in easing the suffering of those in the final stages of terminal illnesses.

Morphine’s long history means that we are well versed not just in its benefits but in its downsides, too. Some of the common side effects of morphine include drowsiness, constipation, nausea and confusion. However, more serious problems can arise too including not being able to breathe properly, dangerous blood pressure drops and morphine addiction.

What is morphine addiction?

Morphine addiction happens when someone can’t stop using morphine even when it causes harm. It often begins with a doctor’s prescription for real pain issues but this can easily turn into dependence if you are not careful. This shift might happen if someone uses morphine longer than needed, takes more than the doctor said or uses it just to feel good.

As you use morphine more frequently, its effectiveness diminishes. You might then increase your dose to achieve the same relief from pain or euphoric feeling. This overuse can make your brain heavily dependent on morphine so much so that stopping or decreasing your use can cause your brain to react violently. This triggers severe withdrawal symptoms as your bodily systems try to cope with the absence of the drug.

But morphine can also quickly become a go-to for a number of psychological and emotional issues. These can include depression, stress and fear of pain returning after being prescribed morphine. This combination of physical and psychological ties creates a deep-seated addiction, requiring specialised treatment that addresses both aspects.

Spotting the warning signs of morphine addiction

Morphine addiction often begins not with a shock but with minor changes that can quickly spiral out of control. Here are some morphine addiction symptoms that may suggest a problem is developing:

  • Morphine isn’t for your pain relief anymore but is for sedation or pleasure.
  • All your resources are funnelling into acquiring more morphine.
  • You are neglecting work or school due to morphine use.
  • Your morphine habit is causing friction with loved ones.
  • Withdrawal symptoms appear if you try quitting.
  • You have had to increase the dose to feel morphine’s effects.
  • You are becoming dependent on morphine to enjoy life.
  • You keep a hidden stock of morphine or lie to your doctor about running out.
  • Irritability when you can’t use morphine.
  • You ignore the negative impacts or can’t stop despite recognising them.

morphine-injection

If these morphine addiction signs and symptoms resonate with you, it is a clear signal to reach out for professional assistance. Starting treatment might seem frightening, but the sooner you begin, the sooner you can mend the damage and start anew.

What causes morphine addiction?

The journey into morphine addiction is often complex, not happening simply by chance but influenced by a mix of individual factors. These often include a combination of:

The chemistry of your brain
Morphine affects the brain similarly to endorphins which are natural painkillers produced by the body. However, how quickly a person’s brain starts relying on morphine instead of its own endorphins can differ, making some more prone to addiction than others.
Your childhood and genetics
Both inherited factors and childhood environments can influence addiction. Like other traits passed down from parents, a predisposition to addiction can be inherited. This inherited risk can be exacerbated if you grew up in an environment where drug use was frequent, further heightening the likelihood of developing a morphine addiction.
Mental health self-medication
When morphine is used as a crutch for dealing with mental or emotional challenges like anxiety, depression or past trauma, it starts a dangerous cycle. This approach can quickly lead to dependence and discontinuing morphine may cause all those suppressed problems to return more severely. This then results in even more morphine being used to soothe the intensified symptoms.
Long-term pain management needs
Using morphine to manage chronic physical pain increases the risk of addiction over time. This is why it is rarely advised to take morphine for long-term pain management purposes. In cases where it is needed for an extended period, your doctor must pay close attention to any developing signs of morphine addiction.

The mental and physical dangers of a morphine addiction

Morphine is an incredibly powerful drug and so its adverse effects can be incredibly destructive. These effects may include:

Morphine overdose
Morphine addiction can cause serious health issues but the risk of overdose is particularly scary. Morphine overdose can occur if you take too much at once or combine it with other substances. Death from morphine overdose is often the result of respiratory depression which is when breathing slows right down or stops altogether. It is, therefore, vital to act fast and call for help if you are worried you or someone else is overdosing.
Damage to vital organs
Long-term morphine abuse can severely impact your organ health, particularly your liver and kidneys. These organs are crucial for detoxifying your body but when overwhelmed by excessive morphine, they can suffer serious and sometimes lifelong damage.
Mental health issues
Frequent abuse of morphine not only worsens pre-existing conditions like anxiety and depression but also impairs cognitive functions, making daily life difficult. As the repercussions of addiction accumulate, they can also lead to the emergence of new mental health disorders, compounding mental health struggles.
Heart problems
Chronic morphine use can also lead to a whole host of significant heart problems. These issues include changes in heart rhythm and a greater risk of having a heart attack, particularly when morphine is injected because this puts enormous strain on the heart.

How to overcome morphine addiction

Effective treatment for morphine addiction starts with opioid detox. This is where doctors guide you to reduce your morphine use slowly through tapering which is when you take a little less each time so your body can adjust. To help you feel better during this, you might get medicines like methadone to ease the resulting withdrawal symptoms or to replace the morphine doses.

After the initial detox stage, it is then crucial to tackle the psychological roots of the addiction. Opioid rehab programmes, available through the NHS and private providers in the UK, are designed to offer this comprehensive support with a range of different therapies and treatments.

Most experts agree that choosing an inpatient programme is usually the best course because it places you in a dedicated healing environment, far from the everyday triggers that might lead to relapse. Top rehab centres provide a range of evidence-based and holistic therapies and continued support even after you leave the programme.

How to get help for morphine addiction

If morphine addiction is affecting you or someone you know, Addiction Helper can help you kickstart your recovery. Morphine addiction is a potentially deadly condition but with the correct approach and ongoing support, recovery is not just a hope but a reality. Contact us today and we can help you find the best way forward.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does morphine stay in your system?
Morphine doesn’t have a particularly long half-life and it usually stays in your system for about 1 to 3 days. This can vary a bit depending on how much you have taken and how your body handles the drug. As with other drugs, morphine might show up in different tests for varying lengths of time depending on the sample taken.
Does morphine make you sleepy?
Yes, morphine can absolutely make you feel sleepy. In fact, this is one of the most common side effects of morphine because it slows down your body’s systems. This is why you should never drive or do any other potentially dangerous activity that requires you to focus or be alert when taking morphine.
Does morphine speed up death?
Morphine is used a lot in palliative care to help people who are very ill feel more comfortable. It is not meant to speed up death but to manage pain and improve quality of life. There is some debate and misconception about this but proponents believe when used correctly, morphine can help make the last days more comfortable and peaceful.

(Click here to see works cited)

  • McClung, Colleen A. “The molecular mechanisms of morphine addiction.” PubMed, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17139840/. Accessed 18 January 2025.
  • UK-Rehab. “Information on Opiates and Opiate Addiction | UK Rehab.” UK-Rehab, https://www.uk-rehab.com/opiate-addiction/. Accessed 18 January 2025.
  • Listos, Joanna et al. “The Mechanisms Involved in Morphine Addiction: An Overview.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 20,17 4302. 3 Sep. 2019, doi:10.3390/ijms20174302. Accessed 18 January 2025.
  • UK-Rehab. “Treatment For Morphine Addiction | UK Rehab.” UK-Rehab, https://www.uk-rehab.com/treatment-rehab/morphine-addiction/. Accessed 18 January 2025.