WHAT ARE OPIOIDS?

Opioids are some of the most addictive drugs in the world. They are a family of painkillers that include: Morphine, fentanyl, oxycodone, hydromorphone and heroin. It has been reported that symptoms of addiction can appear in fewer than three days.

In the short term, opioids release endorphins — neurotransmitters that make a person feel pleasure. The release of these neurotransmitters can help with pain relief and improve quality of life, but the positive sensation can become addictive.

Addiction and dependence are defined separately: Opioid addiction is a compulsive action when a person can’t stop using; opioid dependence is when a person builds up a tolerance — their brain releases fewer endorphins each time. A higher dose is then needed to get the same effect, and users begin to need the drug to feel “normal.”

Opioids also affect the prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain is responsible for understanding consequences, problem solving and short-term memory tasks.

The physical signs of addiction can include minor symptoms like mood swings, nausea and sweating, and more extreme symptoms such as seizures, a lower breathing rate that can lead to an overdose, and, in extreme cases, death.

The long-term use of opioids can create different health issues, including increased risk of heart failure and ataxic breathing — which can cause damage to the part of the brain that controls heart and lung functions.

Rehabilitation and recovery from an opioid addiction is possible but difficult. The success of treatment is said to be dependent on many factors including: social support, patient-provider rapport, and treatment. Around 40 to 60 per cent of people relapse in their first year of recovery.