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Opioids — sometimes called narcotics — include strong prescription pain
relievers such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl and tramadol, and the
illegal drug heroin. Some are made from the opium plant; others are
synthetic.
A provider may prescribe one to reduce pain after a major injury or surgery,
for severe pain from conditions such as cancer, and sometimes for chronic
pain.
Recognising an overdose
Opioids cause drowsiness, mental fog, nausea and constipation. They also cause
slowed breathing, which is what kills.
If someone has signs of an overdose, call 911. The signs:
- Very small pupils
- Falling asleep, or loss of consciousness
- Slow, shallow breathing
- Choking or gurgling sounds
- Vomiting
- Limp body
- Pale, blue or cold skin
- Faint heartbeat
- Purple lips and fingernails
These have to be recognised by somebody else. A person overdosing is, by the
third item on that list, not assessing anything.
Naloxone treats an opioid overdose: it reverses the effects and prevents
death if given quickly.
Opioid use disorder
Opioid use disorder means a problematic pattern of opioid use causing
significant distress and impairment — it interferes with daily life. Two
related words get used for it, and they mean different things:
| Dependence | Feeling withdrawal symptoms when not taking the drug |
| Addiction | A chronic brain disease causing a person to compulsively seek drugs even though they cause harm |
The risk of OUD is higher with misuse: taking more than the prescribed
dose or taking it more often, using it to get high, or taking someone else's
opioids.
Two knock-on effects
In pregnancy. As more people misuse opioids, more women misuse them during
pregnancy, which risks the health of mother and baby. The baby may be born
with neonatal abstinence syndrome — a group of withdrawal symptoms
following exposure to drugs before birth.
To heroin. Increased misuse of prescription opioids leads to more heroin
use, because heroin may be cheaper and easier to get.
Treatment
There are effective medicines for OUD, and the approach has a name:
medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). They help you stop using the
drug, get through withdrawal, and cope with cravings. MOUD is often combined
with behavioural therapy and counselling, and support from family and
friends helps.
Taking prescribed opioids safely
Follow your doctor's instructions. **Do not share your medicines with anyone
else.** Contact your doctor with any concerns about taking them.
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse, via MedlinePlus.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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