Opiates are a class of drugs derived from a certain kind of poppy. Opioids, on the other hand, are the larger class of drugs that includes opiates, as well as synthetic opiates and drugs that have the same effect even though they’re made from different things. In this article, we’ll talk about opioids—the entire group of drugs that includes heroin, methadone, Fentanyl, and other hard drugs.
What Opioids Are and What They Do
Besides heroin, which is a street drug that’s never sold or used legally, a lot of opioids are medicines that doctors prescribe to patients who are in severe pain. According to PsychCentral, codeine, hydrocodone, Percocet, and OxyContin are some of these drugs. They work by blocking pain receptors, which can be very important when someone is healing from a severe injury. These drugs become a problem when used without the care of a doctor. After a while, the brain’s receptors get used to them and more of the drug is needed to produce the same effect. Increasing dose size or taking doses more often deepens the growing addiction, causing a cycle of increased tolerance, need, and risk of overdose.
What Are The Dangers?
Besides reducing pain, some people experience a feeling of happiness or euphoria when opioids enter their brain. This feeling can trigger an addiction, with the user chasing that sensation of happiness even though it hurts their health. Using opioids, especially ones that aren’t prescribed in exact dosages just for you, can cause your body to become very sick. Vomiting, difficulty breathing, dizziness, and constipation are very common side effects.
Using opiates for a long time can make the side effects worse. Respiratory failure, which is when a person’s lungs can no longer breathe properly, is a risk of long-term use. Withdrawal from these drugs is very painful. Cravings become very intense, muscles spasm, and pain shoots through the user’s body.
Because these drugs are so powerful, it’s dangerously easy to overdose on them. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that over the past two decades, deaths from opiates have been on the rise. Depending on the drug and the person using it, addiction can occur extremely quickly.
Many addicts start out with prescription opioids, then turn to heroin when they can no longer find access to pills. If the drugs are taken intravenously, it’s possible to contract HIV or hepatitis from dirty needles. No one sets out to become an addict, but this class of drugs makes it tremendously difficult to avoid dependency. It’s important to remember that no one is immune to addiction.
If someone offers you a painkiller that isn’t prescribed to you and isn’t available over the counter, remember that it’s possible to become addicted after just one use. You should never take any drug, including pills, that aren’t given to you by a trusted adult. Overcoming the epidemic of addiction starts with you. You can decide to not become part of the problem by saying no! Not sure how? Find out how in When Friends Offer Drugs.