Opiates and Opioids

The endorphin-receptor system is the part of the brain where opioid receptors are located. These receptors are responsible for controlling pain, reward, and addictive behaviors. Chemically speaking, both opioids and opiates function in a similar manner, as they will both bind to opioid receptors in the brain. Opioids and opiates will attach themselves to available opioid receptors and send signals to the brain in order to block pain and produce a sense of pleasure or euphoria.

Chasing the High

The effects of opioids, specifically their  euphoric effects, are accentuated most when the drugs are delivered rapidly into the brain, thereby causing users “chasing the high” to snort or inject crushed prescription pills or heroin.

Opioid overdose effects include severe depression of the respiratory system, potentially causing respiratory arrest, coma, and death. Opioid dependence and withdrawal is characterized by constricted nausea, mental confusion, drowsiness, severe sweats and constipation.

The New Synthetic:

Fentanyl, an opioid that is practically and effectively 50 and 100 times more potent than heroin or prescription opioids, is often used to adulterate heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and other “street drugs.”

Overdose deaths often result from a user’s unwitting purchase and use of fentanyl when believing he or she is purchasing heroin or prescription pills.

Fentanyl derivatives such as carfentanil, which is used to anesthetize elephants, is also being used to thin or mix with heroin, causing cluster overdose deaths. Since 2017 the Fentynal synthetic opioid drugs coming from China has exploded .