The term “opioid” refers to any drug that is made from the sap of the opium poppy, a flowering plant, as well as any drug that produces the same effects as those made from the plant. Some opioids are synthetic, or made with chemicals in a lab.
Opioids are good at blocking pain and can be prescribed legally by a doctor. However, opioids can be addictive, and too much of an opioid may lead to an overdose. This can cause injury or even death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 91 people in the United States die every day from an opioid overdose.
Taking opioids that are not prescribed to you is sometimes called “opioid misuse” or “opioid abuse.” When a public health issue, like opioid abuse, affects large numbers of people, it may be called an “epidemic.” Currently, there are men and women of every race, age range, geographic region, and wealth and education level in the United States who suffer from the misuse of opioids.
In this video, Dr. Michelle Lofwall and Dr. Nora Volkow explain how opioids function in the brain.
In 2016, former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said, “The explosion in opioid and heroin abuse in the U.S. in recent years is truly an epidemic and no one is immune…3.8 million people ages 12 and older are currently misusing prescription pain relievers in our country–a stunning indication of just how widespread this phenomenon has become.”
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As you watch, take notes in the space below about how an opioid works in the brain and how the continued use of opioids can lead to addiction. In a final writing assignment, you will be asked to summarize what you learn about the opioid epidemic and its causes and potential solutions, and these notes will be available to help you. (Click “Save” when you have finished. To see your saved or submitted work again, click “My Work” at the top of the page.)