About Opioids

You Have the Power to Prevent Opioid Misuse

Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), codeine, morphine, and many others.

Prescription opioids are one way to safely manage severe pain when taken as directed by a doctor.

However, misusing prescription opioids can put you at risk of addiction, overdose and death. Misuse means taking more medication than you were prescribed, taking it for non-medical use or taking someone else's medication.

Combining opioids with alcohol and other drugs, like sleeping pills or cough medication, increases the chance of an overdose. Xylazine, also known as “tranq” or “tranq dope,” may be combined with opioids, including fentanyl, which significantly increases the risk of a fatal overdose.

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How to Stay Safe

How to stay safe
  • Only take prescription medication that is prescribed to you. Don't share with others.
  • Take your medication exactly as your doctor prescribes. Don’t use in greater amounts, more often or longer than directed. 
  • Keep medications in a safe place. Store prescription opioids out of reach of children and in a safe place, preferably locked, to reduce the chance that others will misuse them. 
  • Only take prescription medication obtained directly from a pharmacy. Counterfeit pills containing fentanyl are increasingly common. They often look like the real thing. Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin. You can’t see, taste or smell it. But just one pill can cause a fatal overdose.
  • Avoid taking prescription opioids with alcohol or other drugs. This increases your risk of overdose. 
  • Safely dispose of expired or unused pills. Check with your pharmacist to see if you can return them to the pharmacy or find a take-back option near you at dea.gov/takebackday.
  • Keep naloxone on-hand and learn how to use it. Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. Naloxone will not harm someone who is not overdosing on an opioid.

Learn How to Use Naloxone

Naloxone is a lifesaving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids, including fentanyl, heroin and prescription opioid medications. If someone’s breathing has slowed or stopped because of an opioid overdose, naloxone will quickly restore normal breathing. Naloxone is a temporary treatment, so it’s critical to get medical help as soon as possible.

Naloxone has no effect on someone who doesn’t have opioids in their system, so it's always best to use it if you think someone may be experiencing an overdose. Over-the-counter naloxone is available for purchase without a prescription in many Texas pharmacies, convenience stores, grocery stores, gas stations and online.

Watch this video to learn how to use naloxone to reverse an overdose.

Tolerance

The body adapts to opioids quickly. Increasing amounts may be needed to manage the pain, even when taken as directed. Higher doses increase the risk of overdose.

Withdrawal

Symptoms experienced when someone quickly cuts back or stops taking an opioid include restlessness, chills, sweats, aches and nausea. Someone whose body has become tolerant to opioids and would experience withdrawal if they stopped taking them abruptly is experiencing physical dependence.

Addiction

Addiction is a chronic disease in which someone continues to use opioids even in the face of severe negative consequences. The clinical term for this is opioid use disorder.

Overdose

Opioids affect the part of the brain that controls breathing. If someone takes too much, it can slow or stop their breathing and cause death. 

Signs of an overdose: 

  • Small, constricted “pinpoint pupils.” 
  • Face is extremely pale and/or feels clammy to the touch.
  • Body goes limp. 
  • Fingernails or lips have a purple or blue color. 
  • Vomiting or making gurgling noises. 
  • Cannot be awakened or unable to speak. 
  • Breathing or heartbeat slows or stops. 
  • For people with lighter skin, the skin may turn blue or purple. For people with darker skin, the skin may turn gray or ashen. 

How to save a life: 

  1. Call 911 right away.
  2. Try to wake the person up.
  3. Tilt the person’s head back and give naloxone, if available.
  4. Begin rescue breathing or CPR.
  5. Turn the person on their side to prevent choking.
  6. Stay with the person until emergency services arrive.

Visit the National Harm Reduction Coalition website for more detailed information about recognizing and responding to an overdose.

Preventing Prescription Opioid Misuse Among Young Adults

Watch this short video to learn about some of the ways that young adults may encounter opioids and how to reduce the risk of non-medical use.

Signs of Opioid Misuse

It may be hard to see the signs of opioid misuse clearly, especially in someone you care about. But when you know what to look for, you can help protect them from opioid addiction and overdose–and support them in getting treatment.

Here are some common signs of prescription opioid misuse

  • Showing a change in mood, attitude or personality.
  • Withdrawing from friends, family or hobbies.
  • Making mistakes at school or work because of substance use.
  • Changes in sleep patterns.
  • Taking larger doses or for longer than prescribed.
  • Seeking the same prescription from multiple doctors for a "backup" supply.
  • Withdrawing from friends, family or hobbies
  • Showing a change in mood, attitude or personality
  • Displaying changes in sleep pattern
To help someone you know get started on a path to treatment and recovery, explore these resources for someone struggling with opioid addiction.

Understanding the Opioid Crisis in Texas

For additional data about the opioid crisis in Texas, visit Texas Health Data.