
About Opioids
Opioids are a type of medication used to reduce pain.
Prescription opioids, such as Vicodin®, Ultram®, Oxycontin®
or Percocet®, 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 physical dependence, addiction, overdose and death.
Misusing your medications means taking more than you were
prescribed, taking someone else's medication or any
non-medical use.
Prescription opioids are highly addictive and can be
dangerous if taken in any way other than as your
doctor prescribes. Opioids change the way that pain
signals are sent to and processed by the brain. They
reduce the perception of pain and can cause a
temporary sense of
well-being, creating a craving for more of that
feeling.
However, people who take opioids may also experience
harmful effects, including drowsiness, confusion,
nausea, constipation, and slowed breathing. 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.
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.
Symptoms experienced when someone quickly cuts back or stops taking an opioid include restlessness, chills, sweats, aches, nausea. Someone whose body has become tolerant to opioids and would experience withdrawal if they stopped taking them abruptly is experiencing physical dependence.
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.
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:
How to save a life:
Visit the National
Harm Reduction Coalition website for more
detailed information about recognizing and
responding to an overdose.
For additional data about the opioid crisis in Texas, visit Texas Health Data.