Opioids are a class of drugs naturally found in the opium poppy plant that work in the brain to produce a variety of effects, including the relief of pain.
Opioids can be prescription medications often referred to as painkillers, or they can be so-called street drugs, such as heroin.
Many prescription opioids are used to block pain signals between the brain and the body and are typically prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain. In addition to controlling pain, opioids can make some people feel relaxed, happy or “high”.
According to the CDC, the number of drug overdose deaths remain high, and the majority of these deaths, over 70% in 2019, involved opioids. Additionally, nearly 73% of all opioid deaths involve synthetic opioids (excluding methadone).
Opioids can be highly addictive. Additional side effects can include slowed breathing, constipation, nausea, confusion and drowsiness.
Opioids are sometimes referred to as narcotics and although they do relieve pain, they do not fall into the same category as over-the-counter painkillers such as aspirin and Tylenol.
The most commonly used opioids are:
When any of these drugs are prescribed to you or a family member for any reason, use caution and make sure they are being taken as directed and only when needed.
It is important to provide treatment for people struggling with opioid use disorder to prevent overdose or even death.
To treat those with opioid use disorder, it is crucial to use evidence-based treatments, including medication-assisted therapy (MAT). MAT is a comprehensive way to address the needs of individuals that combines the use of medication (methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone) with counseling and behavioral therapies.
Naloxone – a non-addictive, life-saving drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose when administered in time.
To avoid pain medicine addiction you should:
