Opioids are derived from the Papaver somniferum, commonly known as the opium poppy plant.
o·pi·oid
/ˈōpēˌoid/
noun
plural noun: opioids
a compound resembling opium in addictive properties or physiological effects.
Forms of Opioids
Codeine
(Actavis®, Quagen®)
is an opioid pain reliever used to treat mild to moderately severe pain. It is also used, usually in combination with other medications, to reduce coughing.
Fentanyl
(Actiq®, Duragesic®, and Sublimaze®)
is an analgesic with a potency at least 80 times that of morphine. Fentanyl and its derivatives are used as anesthetics and analgesics in both human and veterinary medicine.
Heroin
also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is an opioid used as a recreational drug for its euphoric effects.
Hydrocodone
(Vicodin®)
is a morphinane-like compound that is a semi-synthetic opioid synthesized from codeine.
Morphine
(Kadian®, Avinza®)
Morphine is a morphinane alkaloid that is a highly potent opiate analgesic psychoactive drug.
Oxycodone
(OxyContin®, Percocet®)
Oxycodone is a semisynthetic, moderately potent, orally available opioid that is widely used for acute or chronic management of moderate or moderately severe pain.
The stronger the drugs, the harder it is to revive a person.
The Affect on the Brain
Opioids bind to and activate opioid receptors on cells. These cells are located throughout the brain, spinal cord, and other organs in the body. Prescription opioids and heroin are chemically similar and can produce a similar euphoric experience.
Psychological Effects
Opioids attach to these receptors, they block pain signals sent from the brain to the body and release large amounts of dopamine throughout the body affecting the feelings of pain and pleasure. Opioids can relieve pain while inducing a euphoric feeling.
Common Side Effects
Other known side effects of opioids include: drowsiness, confusion, nausea, constipation, euphoria, slowed breathing
2010 – 2020 Opioid-Related Overdose Death Data Infographic
References
DEA Fentanyl Fact Sheet (2022) https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl
FDA (2022) Codeine Information https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/codeine-information#:~:text=Codeine%20is%20an%20opioid%20pain,some%20cough%20and%20cold%20medications
Fentanyl drug profile (n.d.) European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction https://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/drug-profiles/fentanyl_en#:~:text=Fentanyl%20is%20a%20narcotic%20analgesic,and%20veterinary%20medicine%20(Carfentanil)
National Library of Medicine (2022) Hydrocodone https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5284569
National Library of Medicine (2022) Morphine https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Morphine
Nation Library of Medicine (2022) Oxycodone https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Oxycodone
Overdose Death Rates (2022) National Institute on Drug Abuse https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates
Last updated August 20th, 2022.