What Are Opioids?
Opioids are a large class of pain medications that function by interacting with opioid receptors in your cells. Opioid drugs can be a mix of different medications like synthetic fentanyl, heroin, and illegally manufactured fentanyl. These could be smoked, injected, pulverized, snorted, or taken directly. Prescription opioids are safe when taken for a short period of time, but can be highly addictive if taken for longer.
History of Opioids in Teens
Adults are normally prescribed opioids to relieve chronic pain. The only time this strong medication is prescribed to children is when they have severe pain from surgery or injury.
Many children die from the improper usage of these drugs, even though it is not as common for them to take the drug. Over the years, the average number of children who have died from taking opioids has increased tremendously. Opioids have been responsible for 24.1% (7 of 29) of the medications that caused child deaths in 2005, but this number rose to 52.2% (24 of 46) in 2018.
Common Side Effects
-
Curtesy of Irene Miranda (Flickr cc0) Delayed breathing (heavy or slowed breathing).
- Feeling dizzy or constantly tired.
- Constipation (dry hard stools).
- Itchy flakey skin.
- Heavy excitement and pleasure.
- Constant nausea.
Risk of harmful side effects can be lowered by carefully following doctors instructions and taking prescription exactly as directed.
Factors and Risk of Opioids
While opioids can reduce pain, they can also cause addiction and overdose when used improperly. When taken incorrectly, opioid drugs flood the brain with dopamine, resulting in an intense feeling of euphoria and driving the brain to sustain that behavior. These emotions might make users want to keep using. However, doing so can endanger their health and complicate their lives. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that about 75% of the 91,799 overdose deaths in 2020 involved an opioid drug.
Risks
- Addiction.
- Overdose.
- More pain.
- Damage to the brain.
- Can induce coma.
- Death.
These drugs attach to cells in many regions of the brain, spinal cord, and other organs in the body and activate the opioid receptors in those cells. These regions are mostly involved with emotions of pleasure and pain. The process of ingesting the medication can be highly repeated by the release of dopamine opioids cause to the body; Therefore making the user wish to repeat the experience.
Once a person is dependent to the drug, it can create damage to the brain and result in memory loss. In addition, constant use of opioid drugs can lead to severe addiction, and over time, even overdose. When someone overdoses, both their heart rate and respiration become really slow. Further increasing health problems and the possibility of death.
Addiction to Opioid Drugs and How to Find Help
Opioid drugs’ ability to successfully relieve pain also makes them harmful. The pleasure people get from constantly taking opioids can lead to a dependence on them, which is the main cause of these addictions. The number one thing to do to avoid becoming addicted is to limit intake with permission from doctor. In other words, if the pain is below a six out of ten, there is no need to take the drug as it is mainly for severe pain.
One of the most successful therapies for opioid addiction involves the use of drugs containing opioids; which have both applications focused on healing properties and significant hazards. Each patient’s needs should be closely watched by medical professionals and their intake should be organized for them specifically.
Written by, Patricia A. Ezeanyim
Sources:
Shatterproof: Substance Types and Effects: Opioids
Mayo Clinic: What are opioids and why are they dangerous?
CNN Health: Young children are increasingly victims of opioid epidemic, study finds
