There is a silent but deadly force terrorizing the nation. It does not discriminate between man or woman; rich or poor. It starts out as an invited guest, turns into a close friend, and then eventually becomes the leg upon which one stands. This seemingly innocuous entity is actually a highly addictive painkiller, known as opioids.
Opioids are drugs naturally found in the opium poppy plant. The most widely known opioids are oxycodone, morphine, codeine, fentanyl, and heroin.
Although opioids have great medicinal potential due to their painkilling effect, they have sparked an abuse epidemic due to other side effects.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Opioids bind to and activate opioid receptors on cells located in many areas of the brain, spinal cord, and other organs in the body, especially those involved in feelings of pain and pleasure.”
When one takes an opioid, the chemical compounds found in the drug act as an agonist to neurotransmitters in the brain, mimicking the pleasurable feelings of a dopamine rush. Opioids also inhibit feelings of pain, giving the user an intense “high.”
The intense euphoria, reduced pain, and irregular chemical messaging in the brain is what compels users to seek more frequent and higher dosages. Additionally, the intense withdrawal experienced reinforces the need to seek out more opioids.
This physiological hijacking is what led to the 60.82% increase in opioid-related overdoses in Alameda County in 2023. Becoming dependent on opioids is in no way a reflection of the user, but rather the addictive nature of the drug itself.
