When someone says the word narcotic, what do you think of? Do you think of the shady, run down parts of a big city, where drug peddlers play hide and seek with today's youngsters? Perhaps you think of a rich businessman, who spends his coffee break in the company bathroom snorting cocaine to keep up with works' stresses and long hours. The word narcotic refers to many different drugs, the way they are administered, and whether their use is for good or bad. In the articles I read for this reaction paper, I learned about both sides of the narcotic spectrum. First, I read about the use of morphine with regard to pain patients, and the controversy that surrounds it. Second, I read about the deadly effects snorting heroin has had on a rich suburban area in Texas. In this essay, I will voice my reactions to both articles read, and in addition, I will critique both pieces of work.
             Article 12 –"The Case For Morphine", by Christine Gorman, was a terrifically researched piece on the pain killer, morphine. It seems the author chose an area of substance abuse that is rather gray, and that asks the question of "if a drug that is under most situations considered highly addictive and bad, but can help a lot of people that suffer from life long pain, why don't we use it more for the good or at least research it more?" Gorman seems to answer a lot of her own questions by supporting the article thoroughly with facts about morphine, the way the body responds to pain and pain relief and the difference between dependence and addiction. While there is no evidence that Ms. Gorman is qualified to write about this subject, individuals who are qualified to speak about this subject support every statement made. References from physicians, pharmacologists, pain specialists, scientists and more importantly, individuals who have actually benefited from the use of morph!
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