What is An Opioid?

While there are many types of opioids that have different effects on individuals, most prescription painkillers can fall under this category including: Oxycodone (OxyContin), Hydrocodone (Vicodin), Morphine, Methadone and Fentanyl. Other illegal narcotics such as heroin also fall under opioids which have been found in people with opioid dependence disorders

All opioids have the same chemical make-up and bind to opioid receptors on nerve cells throughout the body and brain. The fact that opioid pain medicines produce euphoria as well as pain relief makes them potentially misused (taken in a different way or in a greater quantity than intended, or taken without a prescription). Even when prescribed by a pain doctor, regular use may lead to dependence, and opioid pain medications, when misused, can lead to drug addiction, drug overdose, and even death. Research, has shown that both a buprenorphine/naloxone combination and an extended release naltrexone formulation are equally effective in treating opioid addiction once treatment is started.

However, because naltrexone needs complete detoxification, it was more difficult to start treatment among active users. Many people are able to recover from opioid addiction with the help of these drugs. When given immediately, the medication naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose. Some areas of the country have seen improvements, such as a decrease in the availability of prescription opioid pain medications and a decrease in teen misuse due to Suboxone clinic , methadone clinics and other opioid addiction treatment centers. Pain medication overdose deaths involving heroin, on the other hand, surged considerably within 2006 to 2012. Methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone are among the effective drugs for treating opioid use disorders.