Morphine-Induced Immunosuppression, From Brain to Spleen
Morphine and other opioids suppress the immune system, the body's innate defense against infections. Because of this effect, doctors weigh the pain-relief benefits of opioids against the added risk of infection they pose to patients, particularly those being treated for severe burns or certain cancers. Opioid abusers, many of whom are already infection-prone due to unclean needles, repeated injections, and poor nutrition and living conditions, are rendered even more vulnerable by these drugs. Morphine affects the body's immune cells in many ways, both direct and indirect. Recently, NIDA-funded