07/08/2021
"Opioids"đź’Š
are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug he**in, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone.
â—ŹHow do opioids work?
Opioids attach to proteins called opioid receptors on nerve cells in the brain, spinal cord, gut, and other parts of the body. When this happens, the opioids block pain messages sent from the body through the spinal cord to the brain.
â—ŹHow? "opioid" addiction occurs
Opioid use — even short term — can lead to addiction and, too often, overdose. Find out how short-term pain relief leads to life-threatening problems.
⚠️Anyone who takes opioids is at risk of developing addiction. Your personal history and the length of time you use opioids play a role, but it's impossible to predict who's vulnerable to eventual dependence on and abuse of these drugs. Legal or illegal, stolen and shared, these drugs are responsible for the majority of overdose deaths.
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