Diamorphine can be a confusing drug for people. Many confuse it with heroin, for good reason, wondering why they or someone they know has been prescribed an incredibly powerful opioid.
Confusion is helpful to no one, so you must be knowledgeable about diamorphine if it has become part of your life.
If you’re asking “what is diamorphine”, then you’re in the right place. We’re going to look more closely at what diamorphine is, its legitimate medical use and the major risks around the powerful drug.
What Is Diamorphine?
Diamorphine is a powerful opioid drug. It is also known as diacetylmorphine and is the proper medical and pharmaceutical name for the same compound that is heroin.
Modified from morphine, it is an effective painkiller and works by interrupting pain signals in the brain and central nervous system. In short, it changes the way your body perceives pain.
Diamorphine is fast-acting, taking effect within 20 minutes and lasting up to 4 hours.
It can also make you feel an intense sense of relaxation or euphoria, which can become easy to crave and could lead to misuse if you’re not careful.
Medical Uses of Diamorphine
Diamorphine is used in UK medical settings for severe pain and other specific conditions.
Diamorphine can be used for severe pain relief, for example when women are in the early stages of labour. It can also be given to cancer patients to help relieve their pain.
It is also used in palliative care, for those who are unable to swallow other types of medication or for whom morphine is not used.
More recently, it has again become part of addiction treatment. Some schemes have popped up around the country where participants receive supervised diamorphine injections to end people’s reliance on dangerous street heroin and help reduce crime and unintended deaths.
As a Schedule 2 Controlled Drug, diamorphine should not under any circumstances be used outside of a medical setting as it requires proper assessment and monitoring.
What’s The Difference Between Diamorphine and Heroin?
Diamorphine and heroin contain the same active compound, diacetylmorphine.
Medical diamorphine is manufactured to pharmaceutical standards and only used under strict controls as it is a Class A, Schedule 2 Controlled Drug in the UK.
Street heroin has an unpredictable strength and may contain other substances, increasing the risk of overdose and other harms.
Risks of Diamorphine Misuse
Diamorphine is a powerful opioid that carries many risks, including:
- Overdose – Diamorphine is a central nervous system depressant, slowing down your breathing. If you take too much, your breathing can stop altogether, resulting in death.
- Addiction – prescription drugs like diamorphine are highly addictive. Abuse of it can lead to changes in brain chemistry that cause you to develop cravings, wanting to experience that “high” again. As you take more, tolerance builds, so you need more to feel the same effects, increasing the risk of dependency.
- Mental health issues – Chronic use can lead to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety as you become more focused on using diamorphine.
Signs of Opioid Addiction
Opioid addiction can quickly take over a person’s life. It can be hard to overcome and will only become more complicated the longer the situation is allowed to develop.
If you are worried about your opioid use or someone you know, being aware of the signs of dependence is useful. With this knowledge, you can take steps towards helping yourself or that loved one before the problem gets worse.
As opioid addiction can take over a life, there can be many symptoms, but these will vary from person to person and depend on many factors.
Physical Signs of Opioid Addiction
- Sleep disturbance
- Poor personal hygiene
- Weight loss
- Ill more often
- Nodding off regularly
- Building up a tolerance
- Pinpoint pupils
Psychological Signs of Opioid Addiction
- Intense cravings
- Downturn in mental health (depression, anxiety)
- Poor focus, brain fog, memory problems
- Mood swings
Behavioural Signs of Opioid Addiction
- Tried to stop and been unable to
- Using more than prescribed
- Lying about or becoming more secretive about opioid use
- Neglecting personal responsibilities
- Continuing to use opioids despite negative consequences
You shouldn’t let the dependence continue. If you are worried about opioid use and ready to ask for help, consider reaching out to an opioid rehab for confidential advice.
Treatment Options
Opioid addiction is a serious medical issue that requires professional intervention. Opioid withdrawal can be very uncomfortable, and professional support can help manage symptoms and reduce the risk of relapse and overdose.
Specialist opioid treatment in a heroin rehab is appropriate to help you safely detox and also deal with the psychological aspect of your dependency. This can all take place in a confidential and secure setting that brings structure to your life, allowing you time to focus fully on recovery.
Opioid Detox
Withdrawal will be managed with a medically supervised detox programme. During this period, you’ll be under medical care as your body rebalances itself, getting used to opioids no longer being in your system.
In the case where you experience severe withdrawal symptoms, medication may be administered to help ease them.
Opioid Treatment
Once you have detoxed and ended your physical dependence, you’ll work on the psychological side. Therapies such as CBT and group therapy can help you better understand your addiction, what led you to it and work on breaking destructive cycles.
You can do this supported by addiction professionals and those around you who are going through the same thing.
Get Help With Diamorphine Misuse Today at Cassiobury Court
Diamorphine is chemically the same as heroin but legal in strict medical settings. It can be useful for specific cases but remains a dangerous drug that is highly addictive.
If you are worried about opioid dependence, you’re not alone. Contact Cassiobury Court confidentially for support with opioid dependence, for yourself or a loved one. We are a private drug and alcohol rehab, offering personalised treatment programmes for our clients.
For more information, you can reach a team member at 01923 369 161 or text HELP to 83222.
