In the United States, opioid use disorder has taken almost a million lives since 1999. For each of those lives lost, countless others suffer through opioid addiction and dependence.
Opioids can be both legal and illicit, and it is not only possible but common to develop an addiction to opioids even when taking them as prescribed. They are typically given as analgesics prescribed by doctors at opioid recovery centers to help patients deal with pain, such as post-surgery or for chronic pain issues.
Opioids include prescription drugs such as:
- Codeine
- Hydrocodone with or without acetaminophen (Vicodin, Lorcet, Lortab, Norco ER, Hysingla)
- Fentanyl (Actiqu, Abstral, Fentora, Duragesic)
- Meperidine (Demerol)
- Methadone
- Morphine (Kadian, MS Contin, Morphabond)
- Oxycodone with or without acetaminophen or naloxone (Oxaydo, OxyContin, Pecocet, Roxicet)
- Oliceridine (Olynvik)
- Tramadol
Opioids work by binding to opioid receptors, located in the spinal cord and brain, as well as other areas in the body. When they do this, they send the signal to your brain that you are not in pain.