The Morphine Myth Part I
Posted on Mar 30, 2018 2:48pm PDT
The Morphine Myth
Morphine has a reputation as a strong and dangerous drug so why does hospice
use it? When used properly, morphine has several very helpful purposes.
While it is not a medication to be taken lightly, there are a lot of misconceptions
out there—especially with regards to hospice care.
Morphine is a naturally derived medicine in the same class of opioids as
codeine, hydrocodone and oxycodone. It is used to treat sharp, acute pain
and it also relaxes the lungs and makes it easier to breathe—a common
ailment of those that require hospice care. With reduced pain and easier
breathing, the hospice patient can eat, sleep and maintain a higher quality
of life with comfort and dignity.
Amid our nation’s current opioid crisis, many myths persist regarding
morphine’s legitimate use. These myths result in less than optimal
pain and symptom management for hospice patients, but the confusion infused
by these myths into the decision-making process can often lead to highly
complicated grief for loved ones following a patient's death.

Dr. TJ Hawkins, Ph.D., Bridgeway Hospice's Director of Program Services,
notes that in over 10 years of experience as a Grief and Bereavement Counselor,
he has seen many loved ones struggle greatly from issues of anger and
guilt regarding the circumstances surrounding the use of morphine at the
end of life. Sometimes these complicated grief factors can lead to serious
cases of depression and can highly debilitate their post-loss life. Dr.
Hawkins recommends approaching the use of this drug with an open mind
and seeking a thorough education of the uses of morphine from your healthcare provider.
Many hospice patients never even take morphine because they don’t
need to. It is the degree of pain that the person is in that determines
the medication. Hospice practitioners start with the mildest form of medicine
and work from there. If it is appropriate that the patient be given morphine,
the initial doses are low and slowly increased until they relieve the
person’s pain and shortness of breath
While morphine has a reputation as a dangerous boogeyman and a hard drug,
it is also a valuable tool for improved quality-of-life for hospice patients.
Opioids properly administered in a healthcare setting are nothing to be
afraid of. By reading this, you are already doing the right thing by researching
and learning more about the topic. Take your time to consider the benefits
of this medicine to your loved one’s comfort and dignity.