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Understanding Opioid Addiction (University of Minnesota)

The opioid crisis has had a heavy impact on people living in the United States and has resulted in many preventable deaths across Minnesota and the rest of the nation. The opioid crisis has reached all of our communities, and if you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, you are not alone.  

What are the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose and what do I do?

An overdose can dangerously slow or stop breathing. This can cause brain damage or death. It’s important to recognize the signs and act fast. Signs of an overdose can  include: 

  • Falling asleep or loss of consciousness (inability to rouse) 
  • Slow, shallow breathing (less than 12 breaths per minute)
  • Choking or gurgling sounds
  • Limp body
  • Pale, blue, or cold skin  
  • Small pupil

It may be hard to tell if a person is high or experiencing an overdose. If you aren’t sure, it’s best to treat it like an overdose. 

  • Immediately call 911. 
  • Administer naloxone, if available.
  • Try to keep the person awake and breathing.
  • Lay the person on their side to prevent choking. 
  • Stay with the person until emergency workers arrive. 

Learn more about naloxone (Narcan) and find contact information for Minnesota Narcan availability. 

What is opioid addiction?

Substance use disorder (SUD), commonly called addiction, is a chronic disease like diabetes, high blood pressure or asthma.  

  • Addiction is not a matter of personality, willpower or weakness. 
  • Anyone can become addicted. 
  • Drug addiction (substance use disorder) is a disease that affects the structure of the brain and people’s behavior.  
  • Experimenting with recreational drugs or prescribed pain medication can lead to drug dependence or addiction.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKAbnhfFfzI

Learn more about opioid use

What are opioids?

The US Department of Health and Human Services define opioids as ‘... a class of drugs that include legal drugs to reduce pain (such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine) and also include the illegal drug heroin and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.’ 

  • Prescription opioids are generally safe when used for a short time and as prescribed by a clinician.
  • People can become addicted to both prescription opioids and illegal opioids. 
  • Both legal and illegal opioids can lead to drug dependence, addiction, overdose and death.

Misusing opioids can include not following instructions from your doctor, taking pills that are not prescribed for you or taking opioids to get high.

How do you know if you are addicted to opioids?

The signs and symptoms of addiction can be physical, behavioral and psychological. The Mayo Clinic describes symptoms of drug addiction as the following:

  • Continuing to use increased amounts of the drug to achieve the same effect 
  • Continuing to use the drug, even though it is harming your physical and mental health
  • Engaging in risky behaviors such as driving or stealing when under the influence of the drug
  • Avoiding social activities or missing work
  • Interfering with relationships
  • Using the most of your time to get the drug, use the drug, or recover from the effects of the drug
  • Struggling with your attempts to stop using the drug 
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms
How do opioids work?

Opioids travel through the blood and attach to receptors in the brain. Opioids can block pain, cause sensations of pleasure like calmness or happiness, and slow heart and breathing rates.

What is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is roughly 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than some forms of heroin.

  • Other illicit drugs can be laced with fentanyl, unknown to the user.
  • This can cause unintentional overdoses because fentanyl is so potent. 
Is it dangerous to mix opioids with other drugs?

Mixing opioids with other drugs can cause dangerous side effects including difficulty breathing, coma, brain damage and death. 

If you are taking prescription pain medications, do NOT take the following without first talking to your health care provider: 

  • Alcohol (including beer, wine and liquor).
  • Antihistamines (including allergy medications such as Benadryl®).
  • Cough medicine/cough syrup.
  • Barbiturates,benzodiazepines (often used as sleeping pills and sedatives, such as Ambien®, Xanax®, and Valium®), and other drugs that cause sedation or respiratory depression.
  • General anesthetics (often used for surgery).

 

Laura Palombi, Pharm.D., MPH, MAT, Associate Professor College of Pharmacy
Keri Hager, Pharm.D., BCAC, Associate Professor College of Pharmacy

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