Staying Safe When Taking Prescription Opioids Aaron Hunt, Gabriela Murza, Amy May, Jenna Hawks, and Alyssa Ferrin
Introduction Opioid use and the dangers that can come from it are becoming more common. People can get opioids legally or illegally (National Institute on Drug Abuse [NIDA], 2021). Prescription opioids are often used for short-term pain management, and it is important to know how to keep yourself safe when taking opioids prescribed by a doctor (NIDA, 2021).
What Are Opioids? Opioids are a type of drug that comes from the opium poppy plant or are made in a lab synthetically (NIDA, 2021). There are several diverse types of medications within the opioid class, but most commonly, they are used to relieve pain and relax the body (NIDA, 2021; Oesterle, 2021). The most common prescription opioids are (Oesterle, 2021): • Morphine • Fentanyl • Codeine • Hydrocodone • Oxycodone
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Prescription opioids, made from opium poppy plants or synthetically in a lab, are often used for short-term pain management. Opioids bind to opioid receptors in the brain, restricting pain signals and causing the body to relax. A person can build a tolerance to opioids, which can lead to developing an opioid use disorder. Too much of an opioid can lead to brain damage or death.
How Do Opioids Work in the Body? Opioid medication enters the brain and binds to opioid receptors. This restricts pain signals and causes the body to relax (Oesterle, 2021). Low doses of opioids can make a person sleepy, but larger doses can cause an individual to relax so much that their heart rate and breathing decrease. A person may also feel euphoric effects (intense happiness) when taking opioids or build a tolerance to them, which may lead to some individuals developing an opioid use disorder (Oesterle, 2021). Opioids can be dangerous when not used as prescribed by a doctor. When too much of an opioid is in a person’s body, they may experience a lack of oxygen to the brain, which can lead to brain damage or death (NIDA, 2021). 1