The Dangers of Opioids

According to the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH), “Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and many others.” The same source goes on to say that “these drugs are chemically related and interact with opioid receptors on nerve cells in the body and brain.”

What makes these drugs interesting is that they are all derived from chemicals found in the notorious opium poppy. The flower, while colorful and beautiful …read more