Opioid Overdose
What are opioids?
Opioids are a group of drugs that are primarily used to relieve pain. Other medical uses include the control of coughs and diarrhea, and for the treatment of addiction to other opioids.
Opioids bind to specific sites in the brain and the body that control basic life functions like breathing, heart rate, body temperature, and consciousness. Once attached, they reduce the body’s perception of pain. They can also produce euphoria, a property that contributes
What is an overdose?
An opioid overdose is a medical emergency that occurs when a person takes an amount of a drug or combination of drugs that is more than their body can process. Because opioids cause respiratory depression, taking more than the body can handle can cause breathing to slow, become irregular, or stop. As a consequence, the person can lose consciousness and eventually die.
Anyone can overdose – experiences users, new users, young or old.
Common Opioids
|
Chemical Name |
Brand Name |
|
Fentanyl |
Actiq, Duragesic, Sublimaze |
|
Heroin |
Diamorphine, |
|
Hydrocodone |
Vicodin |
|
Hydromorphone |
Dilaudid |
|
Oxycodone |
OxyContin, OxyNeo, Percodan, Percocet |
|
Morphine |
Duramorph, Roxanol |
|
Methadone |
Dolophine, Methadose |
|
Buprenorphine |
Suboxone |
|
Codeine |
Tylenol 3 & 4 |
|
Pethidine |
Demerol |
|
Pentazocine |
Talwin |
Overdose Risk Factors
Factors that increase the risk of
- Taking prescription opioids that were not prescribed to you. Take back your unused medication to any pharmacy {link to Medication Take Back page}
- Obtaining opioids from an unregulated source where their quality and potency are not known
- Having overdosed on opioids before
- Mixing opioids with other depressants like alcohol or benzodiazepine (eg. Valium, Xanax)
- Using opioids again after having stopped for a while, which lowers tolerance
- Using opioids alone (1)
Signs of Opioid Overdose & How to Respond
- Vist our Opioid Overdose Response & Naloxone page.
Overdose Prevention
- Visit our Preventing Overdose page.
(1)