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Who's Really Using Prescription Opioids?

Beginning in the late 1990s, the consumption of prescription opioids used to treat pain increased in many countries worldwide. Since that time, the United States has outpaced every other country in per capita opioid consumption.

A third of all overdoses involve prescription pain relivers. 33% of teenagers prescribed opioids abuse them after high school.

What are Opioids?

Prescription pain relievers, often called “opioids,” are made in a laboratory to lessen the sensations of pain, slow breathing, and cause a dream-like state. The main ingredient is derived from a plant called the opium poppy, which has been used for medicinal purposes for about 5,000 years.

What Do Opioids Look Like?

Tablets and Capsules
Skin patches
Liquid

Skin patches

Capsules

Liquid

How are Opioids Consumed?

Snorted as a powder
Swallowed
Injected
Smoked as a powder

Snorted

Injected

Swallowed

Smoked

The High

Opioids are a class of prescription medicines generally used to relieve pain by reducing the intensity of pain signals reaching the brain, creating a sense of well-being by reducing tension, anxiety, and aggression.

OVERDOSE

Some preparations are so potent that a single dose can be lethal. They can cause paralysis or death. Mixing prescription opioids with other substances also increases the risk of overdose. An opioid overdose can be identified by a combination of three signs and symptoms referred to as the “opioid overdose triad.” The symptoms are:

Pinpoint pupils
Unconsciousness (also known as “nodding off,” or going in and out of a sleep-like state)
Hypoventilation (breathing at an abnormally slow rate)

Did You Know?

Just because someone is using a prescription opioid legally with a doctor’s approval, say for a broken leg or surgery recovery, this does not make them immune to addiction. By no fault of their own, their life can become, well, not their own anymore. If someone were to begin realizing symptoms of dependence, they should talk to their doctor immediately to set up a plan to safely wean off the drugs before things get out of hand. You can help your friend or family member realize those signs and get them back to the doctor to figure out a better plan for their pain management.

Opioids + the Body

Long Term Effects

Nausea
Vomiting
Slowed breathing
Loss of motor coordination
Slurred speech
Dependence on the drug which can cause:
- Confusion
- Continued use even when health, work, school, or family are being harmed
- Episodes of violence
- Being unable to stop or reduce intake; need for daily or regular use to function and feel normal
- Neglecting to eat
- Not caring about physical appearance or regularly enjoyed activities
- Confusion
Uncontrollable obsession with the repetition of certain behaviors
Psychosis

Short Term Effects

Slowed physical activity
Constriction of the pupils
Flushing of the face and neck
Constipation

Opioids + the Brain

Long Term Effects

Although only 3% of of prescription opioid users turn to heroin, 70% of heroin users say they started with prescription opioids. The connection is likely due to the body’s physical dependence on the drug and that after using the prescription opioid for awhile, your body builds a tolerance to it, causing the person to want more in order to obtain that original high, maintain a feeling of normalcy, or even avoid the pains of withdrawal. Heroin, which is an illicit (illegal) opioid derived from the poppy plant just like prescription opioids, can be a cheaper and, in some areas, more accessible option than opioids.

Short Term Effects

Drowsiness
The inability to concentrate
Apathy (lack of interest)

Did You Know?

Every day, over 1,000 people are treated in emergency departments for misusing prescription opioids. In 2015 alone, almost 35,000 deaths nationwide were caused by overdose from opioids.
Morphine was first discovered in 1806 by a German chemist, and it arrived in America during the Civil War to treat injured soldiers. Unfortunately, the addictive nature of the drug trapped so many soldiers into addiction, creating the first wave of opioid addiction, often known as the Soldier’s Disease.
Opioid misuse is a public health emergency, due to pharmaceutical companies advertising opioids as ‘non-addictive’ in 1990. This false claim contributed to soaring rates of addiction and death.

Legal Consequences

Opioids are controlled substances that vary from Schedule I to Schedule V, depending on their medical usefulness, abuse potential, safety, and drug dependence profile. Schedule I drugs, like heroin, have no medical use in the U.S. and are illegal to distribute, purchase, or use outside of medical research. Schedule V drugs, such as the cough suppressant Robitussin A-C, have a lower potential for misuse and are pharmaceutical preparations containing limited quantities of narcotics.

Don’t be fooled by the medical nature of prescription or over-the-counter opioids, even legal drugs can get you into a lot of trouble. The following instances are illegal, even with legal drugs: