# Overdose Is a Big Killer #
You probably know someone who’s been killed by an opioid overdose. Opioid overdoses have shot past car crashes and suicides as the leading cause of unnatural death. It especially affects people from 30 to 60. Opioids (OH pee oiy dz) are a group of narcotic pain relievers. They are one of the 4 main types of pain relievers: 1) Tylenol 2) non-steroid anti-inflammatories (NSAID) Advil, Aleve, Aspirin, etc., 3) steroids, and 4) opioids (narcotic).
# Potent Pain Relief #
Opioids are the strongest pain reliever. There are many opioid painkillers. Morphine was the original one and has been used for over 100 years, but there are others. Codeine, often combined with Tylenol, is an opiate about one-tenth as strong as morphine. Demerol is about half as potent as morphine. Hydrocodone (Vicodin) and oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet, and Percodan) are nearly twice as potent as morphine. Heroin, a common street opiate, is about 5 times as potent as morphine. The most potent opioid is fentanyl (FEN tah nil). It is 100 times as potent as morphine.
# Triggering Pleasure #
Unlike most pain relievers, opioids work in the brain. In the brain, they find a structure called the opioid receptor. They hook on, and this triggers a chain reaction that blocks pain. This process also affects breathing and dumps pleasure chemicals into the brain to give a feeling of intense pleasure. Using opioids over and over makes the pleasure chemicals less and less responsive and creates an extremely strong craving for more. All opioids work the same basic way, but some are stronger than others.
# Opioid or Opiate #
An *Opioid* is any substance that triggers the specific structure in the brain. It can be natural or synthetic. *Opiates* are natural extracts from the opium poppy. Opium poppies are also the flowers that produce poppy seeds. Not all strains contain opium. Opium poppies that don’t produce opium can be seen in many backyard gardens because they are attractive and vigorous. Morphine, codeine, and heroin all come from the poppy plant. Poppy seeds do contain traces of opium and can cause a drug test failure.
# Pain Relievers Have Side Effects #
All pain relievers have side effects. The NSAID pain relievers (Advil etc) can cause ulcers and damage kidneys. Tylenol can cause liver damage, especially with alcohol. Opioids have many side effects. Some are pretty harmless, like constipation, and others severe, like addiction.
# Opioids for Extreme Pain #
There are times when an opioid pain reliever is called for. For extreme pain and cases with terminal diseases, of course, they should be used. They can also be used for short-term, extreme pain like broken bones. They should not be used for chronic pain. They tend to stop working and require higher and higher doses, which leads to severe effects.
# No One Can Do This Alone #
If you or someone you know is dealing with opioid addiction, there are many ways to get help, but help is required. Quitting opioids is not something a person can do alone. Opioids change your brain, and outside help is the only way to fix it. It can take weeks or years to rewire a brain changed by opioids.
# Pain Relief Options #
Pain is hard to handle. Always try to use the least risky pain reliever first. That means natural pain relievers. White willow bark, especially when it is a potent form (standardized to 25% salicin), works for pain, as does devil’s claw. Quality matters, and often, they are hard to find in their pure form. For muscle or joint pain, try a pain relief cream or roll-on that you can put right on the muscle or joint. Use Tylenol or Advil if you need some extra pain relief, but remember, they carry a risk for liver and kidney damage, so don’t use them carelessly.
# Avoid Chronic Pain #
Few things are more debilitating than chronic pain. Work with your health care practitioner to find the best way to manage it. If you are not in constant pain, make healthy living a priority to do everything you can to keep pain away.
