- What are opioids?
- Opioids can make you addicted very easily
- How do you know if you are taking too many opioids?
- What are the signs of opioid abuse?
- Taking care of your pain
What are opioids?
Opioids are medicines for pain. They may be used for pain from sickness, injury, or surgery. Doctors give these medicines to help lower pain signals in your body.
Here are some common opioid medicines:
- Codeine
- Fentanyl
- Hydrocodone
- Morphine
- Oxycodone
About Illegal Opioids
Some opioids are not medicines and are against the law.
- Heroin is an illegal opioid. It is not prescribed by doctors and is unsafe.
Opioid overdoses are a problem in the United States.
Per the CDC, in 2023, about 217 people died each day from opioid overdoses.
Opioids can make you addicted very easily
If you take opioids when you do not need them, or if you take too much, you can get addicted very fast.
In the United States, many people struggle with opioid addiction.
Taking too much opioid medicine is unsafe. If your doctor gives you an opioid, only take it the way your
doctor tells you to. Taking more than your doctor says can cause:
- Weak or slow breathing
- Trouble using the bathroom
- Pain signals in your body stop working
- Feeling confused
- Feeling sick to your stomach
- Harm to your body parts
- Death—opioids are very strong, and even one large dose can kill you
How do you know if you are taking too many opioids?
Watch for these signs:
- You need to take more medicine to make the pain go away.
-
When you take less medicine or stop taking it, your body feels bad.
You may have stomach cramps, sore muscles, or feel cold and sweaty.
What are the signs of opioid abuse?
- Taking your medicine with other drugs that your doctor did not approve
- Getting your medicine refilled too many times
-
Taking the medicine in a way not recommended by your doctor, such as injecting it
with a needle or breathing it in through your nose
Talk to your doctor about how opioid medicines can affect you.
Taking care of your pain (Ask Case Management for more help)