Opioids
Even for patients who take their medication as prescribed, opioids are highly addictive and pose a significant risk of overdose.
What are opioids used for?
Opioids are a class of natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic drugs that include both prescription medications and illegal substances such as heroin. Prescription opioids are mainly used for the treatment of pain. Both prescription and illicit opioids can be highly addictive.
Opioids act on receptors in the body to reduce the intensity of pain-signal perception. They also affect brain areas that control emotion, which can further diminish the effects of painful stimuli and contribute to the euphoric highs associated with the drugs. While it is less common, opioids to treat cough and diarrhea.
The most common modern use of opioids is to treat acute pain. However, since the 1990s, they have been increasingly used to treat chronic pain, despite sparse evidence for their effectiveness when used long-term. Some patients may even experience a worsening of their pain or an increased sensitivity to pain because of treatment with opioids, a phenomenon known as hyperalgesia.
Source: Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia
-
Warning Signs of Opioid Use Disorder
If you or someone you love uses opioids, know what “red flags” to look out for.
-
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Certain medications can ease withdrawal symptoms and prevent opioids from affecting the brain.
-
Overdose Prevention
Learn the signs of an opioid overdose and what you can do if an overdose occurs.