Ethics Paper Example on Opioid

Introduction

A consequence of recurring drug administration is the changes in response to the nervous system. During drug administering, the influence of the drug is reduced by the nervous system responses, while termination of use of the drug leads to the development of drug-opposite reaction as a withdrawal condition. Opioids are often used as drugs because they have a substance that relieves pain and causes the body to relax. Prescription opioids are frequently used in treating moderate to sere pain, although the different variety of opioids have a range of uses, some are utilised in treating diarrhea or coughing. They also have a significant effect on the nervous system and makes someone feel relaxed, and 'high' that makes is usable for non-medicinal reasons by some individuals. It is very dangerous to use opioids for these reasons because it is highly addictive, overindulges and deaths are common among individuals utilising opioids for feeling pleasure. Therefore, this paper argues that it is unethical to take opiates to get high.

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A simple subjectivist view of moral judgments

The simple idea of subjectivism is that all declarations of morals are simple statements of approval or disapproval and nothing more. There are no facts or objectives truths in morality and no right answers to moral questions. Therefore, morality is a matter of sentiments, emotions and feelings with no reality, truth or reason. When Harold says, "It is wrong to take opioids to get high, and also to give or sell them to others to get high." he is reporting his feelings according to subjectivism. Harold means that he disapproves of using opioids to get high and to give or sell them to others for getting high. A subjectivist point of view, morality begins with own feelings about our colleagues including sympathy, compassion and empathy.

Subjectivism assumes that there are no objective moral possessions and that Harold's statement is subjective because it does not express unchallengeable facts (Sobel, 2016). Taking opioids to get high, give or sell them to others for getting high is a moral statement that is made true or false by the conventions of Harold, and it implies an attitude, belief and individual inclination. Therefore, the report is morally right because Harold meets it with approval. The judgments about the conduct of individuals are limited and based on perceptions. Harold expresses a strong dislike on taking opioids to get high, and also to give or sell them to others for getting high, but it does not automatically follow that it is true or false that using opioids for getting high is wrong. A different person, who disagrees with Harold's statement based on moral grounds, is not having a knowledge slip but has a differing attitude towards taking opioids to get high.

Ethical subjectivism provides a simple, straightforward description of the true meaning of morality, although moral views have often been associated with internal perspectives of the objectivity. It feels that Harold is attempting to make an objective, which means that people believe the statement to be fact-stating because of the confidence instilled in most of the moral/ethical comments. However, moral statements often have implied factual implications.

Implications

Repeated misuse of the recommendation for the use of opioids results to substance use disorder that ranges mild medical illness to severe. This result in drug dependence where neurons adopt the use of the drug to attain a normal body functioning. Lack of medicine causes adverse psychological reactions, and some pose a life-threatening case. Misuse of an opioid such as to get 'high' can result to slow breathing that may lead in an insufficient amount of oxygen reaching the brain, which causes nervous and psychological effects causing brain damage and death.

Opioids painkillers vary on their powerfulness of the narcotic element of the medicine, they are numbing painkillers that depresses the central nervous system of the human body, decelerates down the normal functioning of the body, and reduces physical and psychological discomfort (Headrick et al. 2012). Many opioids are used in their intended purpose for the specified duration by a physician without problems; particular individuals develop addiction regarding the manner in which the medication makes them feel. Prolonged usage of the drug can result in brain damage that stops the natural production of opiates. This weakens the ability of the body to manage pain automatically and resulting in high amounts of pain when an individual withdraws from using the drug.

Many people become addicted to the feeling that opioids make them feel. A habit to the sense of emotional well-being and the influence opiates provide in emotional numbing of the traumatic previous incidences, stress or undiagnosed medical conditions. People who abuse opioids develop tolerance to the drug previously prescribed by a physician and find themselves administering more of opioids to attain the 'highness' they desire. Although this option compared to other central nervous depressants can result in a better 'high', its use can result in severe health concerns including death.

The view of Subjectivism

Moral subjectivism presents a difficulty in that it does not offer a way in which both parties can engage in an ethical discussion to decide their differences, merely requiring both parties to practice tolerance by recognising the equivalent truth of awareness asserted by both sides (Zynda, 2017). Therefore, it creates a predicament that morals and ethics seek to resolve in determining the right. Moreover, periodic changes in person's moods and attitudes, experiences and circumstances may not provide an appropriate base for ethical decisions.

High feeling

Non-medical users of opioid have a variety of reasons for taking the drugs; others only want to achieve highness that might be a result of depression, loneliness or anxiety (Berube, 2018). While opioids are essential in the medical world, their use is increasingly becoming focused on recreational preference perhaps partly because of the perception that physicians prescribe these drugs. The 'highness' of opioids come with the feeling of euphoriaWhich part is the main reason why some people consume to get high? However, it has many side effects that many users find uncontrollable. Use of opioids to get high is particularly feeling good, and it destructs the brain rapidly giving a feeling of the intense amount of pleasure, which is vital to individuals who do not feel right. Users do this despite the rebound effect that ends up worsening the situation. The feeling of highness results in various changes to the thoughts, emotions and perceptions that are beneficial to some people depending on personal background and user expectations. Therefore, the effects range between individuals; one might experience the impact unbearable while others can suffer relief and pleasure from a similar effect. A pleasurable sensation resulted from taking opioids is particularly vital to individuals who hardly feel joy. Therefore, it can apply to individuals with depression or anxiety issues and people dealing with unhappy conditions including those living in absolute poverty and those that had an abusive childhood.

People using opioid describe feeling safe when high, but actuality, they do not feel anything. However, they disconnect from people in their surroundings. Moreover, using opioids to get high has significant effects on the human body than its benefits. Since opioids have a high interaction effect with the brain, the drug remains exceptionally addictive and sometimes might result in quantifiable indications of addiction in less than three days.

Therefore, it is correct according to Harold statement that it is wrong to take opioids to get high, and also to give or sell them to others for getting high. Opioids are dangerous and life-threatening drugs when consumed for different purposes other than a prescription from the physician. Long-term use of opioid to get high causes dependence on the drug, which is devastating to many users involved. Withdrawal of addiction is also unpleasant and may depend on the period of dependency, amounts consumed and the regularity.

Conclusion

Moral thinking and conduct are based on weighing reasons between what is right and what is wrong and sticking to them. When an individual is being guided by reason, it differs significantly from an individual's feelings. When a person ignores the reason and focuses on emotions, both parties miss good thinking. Hence, it is true with Harold's statement that it is wrong to take opioids to get high, and also to give or sell them to others for getting high.

Works Cited

Berube, Melanie. "Tapering Opioids for Trauma Patients to Reduce Long-Term Opioid Use." Http://Isrctn.com/, 2018, doi:10.1186/isrctn40263056.

Headrick, John P., et al. "Non-Analgesic Effects of Opioids: Cardiovascular Effects of Opioids and Their Receptor Systems." Current Pharmaceutical Design, vol. 18, no. 37, 2012, pp. 6090-6100., doi:10.2174/138161212803582360.

Sobel, David. "Subjectivism and Reasons to Be Moral." From Valuing to Value, Oct. 2016, pp. 16-42., doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198712640.003.0002.

Zynda, Lyle. "Subjectivism." Oxford Handbooks Online, June 2017, doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199607617.013.20.