Opiate Articles, Blogs and Resources

What are Opiates?

Opiates for pain managementOpioids are a collection of potent narcotics derived from the poppy plant, and that consists of opium or a natural or synthetic derivative of opium. Normally, opioids are used to induce sleep or relieve pain since they work as a depressant in the central nervous system.

Opiates work in the body by connecting to opioid receptors, which are located in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract. In doing so, opiates are able to prevent the release of pain messages and can change the way a person encounters pain.

Opioids also stimulate the neurotransmitters in the brain’s reward system, the results are euphoric like effects. All medicines that are opiate-based must be prescribed by a physician. Usually, these prescriptions are provided with purposes of controlling pain and alleviating the effects of pain.

Due to the fact that the pain-relieving effects of opioids are short-lived and a strong euphoric experience is encountered, the concern of developing an addiction is greatly increased. Opiates can be derived naturally, or they can be man-made.

Naturally occurring opioids include Morphine, Codeine, heroin and opium. Synthetic opioids, which are man-made drugs that simulate opiates, include medications such as Hydromorphone, Oxycodone, Fentanyl, Hydrocodone, Methadone, Demerol, Darvon, and Vicodin.

These are some of the most common types of natural and synthetic opioids:

  • Codeine
  • Morphine
  • Oxycodone
  • Percocet
  • OxyContin,
  • Percodan
  • Hydromorphone
  • Palladone
  • Dilaudid
  • Hydrocodone
  • Lorcet
  • Forten
  • Vicodin
  • Heroin
  • Methadone

Opioids are accessible in many forms, including capsules, pills, tablets, and liquids. Typically, opiates are ground and snorted or inhaled, swallowed, or injected when used recreationally.

Opiates do offer a lot of benefits as they can provide relief to pain, and therefore enhancing the quality of life for a person enduring bodily illnesses. However, they can quickly be misused. All kinds of opiates and opioids can be addictive, some with greater potential for addiction than others. 

Please continue reading below to see our latest blog posts on opioids. Under the “Substance Abuse Navigation” menu, you can click on the drop-down arrow to see evergreen, general information on abusing opiates.

Naltrexone and Injectable Naltrexone (Vivitrol) for Opioid Use Disorders (OUDs)

Man's face with beard The United States is a resurgent national opioid use and overdose epidemic. Physicians are encouraged to treat opioid-use disorders (OUDs), learn about addiction medicine, and help treat OUD patients with the three Food and Drug Administration approved medications (methadone, buprenorphine, and Naltrexone). There is little disagreement at this point that these medications are safe and [...]
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Buprenorphine, Suboxone and the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) in 2020 – Part 2

Doctor doing Research on medical marijuana Contributor: Mark S. Gold, M.D., Professor, Washington University School of Medicine - Department of Psychiatry Three Phases of Buprenorphine Treatment: The Induction Phase is the medical initiation of buprenorphine treatment. Phase 1 usually begins with a visit to a qualified physician's office or certified OTP using approved buprenorphine products. Buprenorphine is administered to a person with [...]
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Buprenorphine, Suboxone and the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) in 2020 – Part 1

Doctor in Research Laboratory working on the Future of Marijuana Contributor: Mark S. Gold, M.D., Professor, Washington University School of Medicine - Department of Psychiatry Introduction Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a chronic, relapsing, and acquired disease. Opioid use stimulates it's own taking until loss of control and continued use cause numerous consequences. OUD is often associated with loss of life, employment, relationships, and health. We [...]
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Naloxone or Narcan: Life-saving Wonder Drug 2020

Hospital Room with Bed Contributor: Mark S. Gold, M.D., Professor, Washington University School of Medicine - Department of Psychiatry Opioid Use Disorders and Opioid Overdose Epidemics Cries for help have been increasing since the coronavirus quarantine. EMTs have been busy with COVID 19, as have community emergency departments and general hospitals. The overdose-reversal support system (Naloxone and other MATs) that [...]
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Terminal Illness & Substance Abuse

Path in the woods representing terminal illness Unless you have a loved one or friend who has died because of a terminal illness, it must be difficult to imagine the thoughts and feelings associated with hearing the words, "there is no cure for this." For some people, this news may cause them to make a bucket list and begin setting things in [...]
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