We all know tolerance. But what else? If one is able to deal with the tolerance - e.g. continually increase the dose to meet the requirements of the tolerance - how does opioid use then harm the person? Note, this really is a question, not a claim of any sort.
Tolerance, dependence and addiction are always mentioned as the adverse effects of opioid use. So what are the seriously harmful effects of opioid addiction in addition to financial and social trouble caused by the constant need for getting more opioids? A lot of folks are taking buprenorphine for the rest of their life for addiction treatment, others continue to be on morphine for good because of pain. What are the cons of these treatments aside financial/social issues? Some adverse effects aside tolerance are mentioned, but they seem very small and ambiguous compared to the notoriousness of opioids.
Thanks!
Edited by Vieno, 03 November 2012 - 05:35 PM.