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Victoria Nanez

Professor Massie

English 1301

6 April 2021

Opioids

Opioids is a controlled substance mainly used as medication to relieve pain. Additionally,

this form of medication is not available for purchase over the counter. Federal regulations require

a medical prescription before a pharmacist can dispense opioids due to their strong side effects.

However, this causes opioids to often be purchased illegally in the streets because of their

addictive nature. Furthermore, misusing opioids causes dependency on the drug, which

frequently leads to overdose. In 2017, the United States declared a national opioid crisis due to

the rising numbers in overdoses and deaths caused by opioid misuse. (Mohammad et al). Despite

the negatives of opioids, it is a medication that serves a purpose, comes in different forms, has

side effects that often lead to addiction, and there are treatments available for those who become

addicted.

Above all, the main purpose of opioids is to serve as an aid in pain management. A

doctor is likely to prescribe opioids to someone who just endured a major surgery or someone

who suffers from chronic pain. Also, opioids may be prescribed for a severe cough or diarrhea.

However, opioids were not always available for such a wide range of pain. In the beginning,

opioids were only prescribed to those with cancer related pain until the 1980s and 1990s when

numerous advocacy groups began pushing for a broader use in pain management (Gross, et al).

Additionally, pharmaceutical companies played a role in advocating for more use of opioids by

falsely assuring medical providers that opioids could be used long term with no risk of addiction
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(Chisholm-Burns). Ultimately, this caused state and federal policies to be altered making opioids

more available to the general public.

Today, there are multiple forms of opioids ranging from tablets, liquids, and more. Also,

there are numerous medications that are made from opioids. However, no matter the form; all

“opioids are natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic chemicals derived from the seed pod of the

opium poppy (Vincenzes, et al).” Furthermore, opioids come in four categories: natural and

semisynthetic, methadone, synthetic, and heroin (Vincenzes, et al). Common prescription

painkillers like hydrocodone and oxycodone come in mostly tablet form, while other opioids like

codeine and morphine are mostly in liquid form. Fentanyl is another form of opioid used for pain

management. This form is usually prescribed in lozenges or a skin patch and is fifty to one-

hundred times more potent than morphine (www.cdc.gov). Most opioids are federally regulated

and used medically, but there are illegal opioids like heroin that comes in tar or powdered form.

Heroin serves no medical purpose as studies show around forty people in the United States die

daily due to a heroin overdose (www.cdc.gov). Furthermore, heroin is often laced with other

drugs like fentanyl to intensify the side effects. Mixing different forms of opioids is highly

dangerous and is more likely to cause an overdose.

Ultimately, opioids are deemed medically necessary. Like any other medication, there are

side effects to be aware of. Common side effects include pain relief, nausea, euphoria,

drowsiness, confusion, and more (www.drugabuse.gov). These side effects occur when the

chemicals interact with cells in the brain and body. Furthermore, opioids act as an inhibitor to

block pain signals. Research shows that “Dopamine, a chemical in the brain, is released in

increased levels when the reward circuits in the brain are stimulated by opioids

(www.americanaddictioncenter.org)”. Therefore, the extra dopamine released in the body plays a

role in why addiction is highly likely for those who frequently consume opioids. The side effects
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start to become a high once the individual starts to take them for pleasure instead of their

intended purpose. Statistics show more than 42,000 people died from opioid overdose with forty

percent involving prescription opioids in the year of 2016 (www.hhs.gov). What is more

shocking is the “United States leads the world in overall consumption of narcotics, including the

global supply of hydrocodone (99%) and oxycodone (83%) (Chisholm-Burns)”. These statistics

prove how dangerous opioids can be when abused. Due to the opioid epidemic, medical

providers have tried to limit the distribution of prescription opioids.

Evidently, treatment is essential for those battling opioid addiction. In addition, as the

body increasingly becomes dependent on opioids, the more difficult it will be to suddenly stop.

For example, an individual who has opioid dependency decides to quit on their own will start to

experience intense withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include chills, nausea, vomiting,

increased heart rate, sweating, body aches, and diarrhea (www.americanaddictioncenter.org). An

individual might find themselves searching for opioids to relieve the painful symptoms of

withdrawals. Furthermore, experts suggest medication-assisted treatment is an effective program

used for opioid addiction by providing medication, counseling, and behavior therapy

(www.samhsa.gov). Additionally, there are three approved medications used for opioid

dependency: buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone (www.samhsa.gov). These medications

are used to help individuals from withdrawals and the desire of opioids. Research states, “the

prescribed medication operates to normalize brain chemistry, block the euphoric effects of

alcohol and opioids, relieve physiological cravings, and normalize body functions without the

negative and euphoric effects of the substance used (www.samsha.gov)”. Also, another treatment

plan is inpatient programs. These programs use the same methods, but benefit from having

twenty-four-hour help as there is always a physician available. Moreover, naloxone is another

form of medication commonly used to combat opioid overdose. Naloxone is an injectable liquid
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used as a “antidote for patients suffering from opioid-induced respiratory depression or arrest

(Willman, et al)”. Ultimately, these treatment programs use necessary resources to aid

individuals to a healthy life without the need of opioids.

To conclude, opioids are proven to be the most effective in managing pain. Opioids

should only be used under a doctor's directions. However, there are plenty of people who buy

opioids illegally because of their pleasurable side effects. Society needs to understand the

complex effects opioids have on the human body. Long term use of opioids is prone to tolerance

and dependency, which over time require higher doses to receive the same relief as before.

Additionally, consuming large amounts at a single time often leads to overdose. Over the years,

opioids have become a national epidemic due to the staggering number of overdoses and deaths

in the United States. Since then, medical professionals have taken steps to fight the opioid crisis

by setting limitations on prescribing opioids and providing medical treatment against opioid use.

Overall, despite the negatives, opioids are medication that serve a purpose, comes in different

forms, has addictive side effects, and treatment programs available for those struggling with

opioid abuse.

Works Cited
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Chisholm-Burns, Marie A., et al. “The Opioid Crisis: Origins, Trends, Policies, and the Roles of

Pharmacists.” American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, vol. 76, no. 7, Apr. 2019, pp.

424–435. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1093/ajhp/zxy089.

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424–435. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1093/ajhp/zxy089.

“Fentanyl.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, 16 Feb. 2021, www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/opioids/fentanyl.html.

Gross, Jacob, and Debra B. Gordon. “The Strengths and Weaknesses of Current US Policy to

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EBSCOhost, doi:10.2105/AJPH.2018.304746.

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Leah K. WalkerEdited by Sarah HardeyReviewed by Ryan Kelley, NREMTLast Updated:

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Centers, 16 Mar. 2021, americanaddictioncenters.org/withdrawal-timelines-

treatments/opiate.

Leah K. WalkerEdited by Sarah HardeyReviewed by Ryan Kelley, NREMTLast Updated:

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“Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).” SAMHSA, Substance Abuse and Mental Health

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“Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT).” SAMHSA, Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Services Administration, 4 Jan. 2021, www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Prescription Opioids DrugFacts.” National Institute on Drug

Abuse, 24 July 2020, www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-opioids.

“Opioid Basics.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, 16 Mar. 2021, www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/opioids/index.html.

“The Opioid Epidemic By Numbers.” United States Department of Health and Human Services,

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http://www.hhs.gov/opioids/about-the-epidemic/index.html

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no. 5, Oct. 2019, pp. 1214–1228. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1007/s11469-018-0041-3.

Willman, Michael W., et al. “Do Heroin Overdose Patients Require Observation after Receiving

Naloxone?” Clinical Toxicology (15563650), vol. 55, no. 2, Feb. 2017, pp. 81–87.

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