opioid
Morphine-like substance
Opioid refers to drugs that bind to opioid receptors in the brain to relieve pain—including natural derivatives of opium (morphine, codeine), synthetic compounds (fentanyl, methadone), and semi-synthetics (oxycodone, heroin).
Opioids produce euphoria alongside pain relief, making them highly addictive.
The opioid epidemic describes widespread addiction and overdose deaths tied to overprescription and illicit supply: The opioid crisis has devastated rural communities.
Powerful prescription pain reliever
- hydrocodoneOpioid pain reliever
- fentanylSynthetic pain-blocking compound
- tramadolSynthetic opioid analgesic
- methadoneSynthetic addiction treatment opioid
Synthetic pain-blocking compound
- carfentanilUltra-potent veterinary opioid
- methadoneSynthetic addiction treatment opioid
- tramadolSynthetic opioid analgesic
- loperamideDrug slowing bowel transit
designer · analog · potency · illicit · clandestine
State of needing another
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- cravingPowerful urge to have
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- overdoseHarmful excess intake
relapse · detoxification · rehabilitation · recovery · abstinence · habituation · intervention · cold turkey
Absence of sensation
- pain reliefEasing of discomfort
- palliativeOffering relief, not remedy
- postoperativeAfter an operation
- chronic painEnduring physical suffering
acute pain · endorphins · neuropathy · cancer pain · dosing · titration · pain management · suffering
Public health emergency from lethal consumption
- public healthCommunity-level disease prevention
- fentanyl crisisSurge in synthetic opioid deaths
- mortalityState of eventual death
- fatalitiesLosses of life
safe injection · harm reduction · pill mill · overprescribing · emergency · surge · prevalence · contamination
Opioid dependency medication
- naltrexoneDependency treatment medication
- buprenorphinePartial agonist for dependency
- naloxoneOpioid overdose antidote
- harm reductionMinimizing adverse outcomes pragmatically
clinic · tapering · induction · stabilization · MAT · outpatient · inpatient · counseling
Signal-receiving molecule
- agonistReceptor-binding trigger molecule
- antagonistOne who opposes another
- partial agonistLigand producing submaximal effect
- muGreek alphabet's twelfth character
kappa · delta · half-life · bioavailability · metabolism · blood-brain barrier · euphoria · sedation
oxycodone
Powerful prescription pain reliever
- hydrocodoneOpioid pain reliever
- fentanylSynthetic pain-blocking compound
- tramadolSynthetic opioid analgesic
methadone · buprenorphine · hydromorphone · laudanum · diamorphine
fentanyl
Synthetic pain-blocking compound
- carfentanilUltra-potent veterinary opioid
- methadoneSynthetic addiction treatment opioid
- tramadolSynthetic opioid analgesic
loperamide · designer · analog · potency · illicit · clandestine
dependence
State of needing another
- withdrawalAct of taking away
- cravingPowerful urge to have
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
overdose · relapse · detoxification · rehabilitation · recovery · abstinence · habituation · intervention · cold turkey · sober living
analgesia
Absence of sensation
- pain reliefEasing of discomfort
- palliativeOffering relief, not remedy
- postoperativeAfter an operation
chronic pain · acute pain · endorphins · neuropathy · cancer pain · dosing · titration · pain management · suffering · sedation
overdose crisis
Public health emergency from lethal consumption
- public healthCommunity-level disease prevention
- fentanyl crisisSurge in synthetic opioid deaths
- mortalityState of eventual death
fatalities · safe injection · harm reduction · pill mill · overprescribing · emergency · surge · prevalence · contamination · death toll
suboxone
Opioid dependency medication
- naltrexoneDependency treatment medication
- buprenorphinePartial agonist for dependency
- naloxoneOpioid overdose antidote
harm reduction · clinic · tapering · induction · stabilization · MAT · outpatient · inpatient · counseling
receptor
Signal-receiving molecule
- agonistReceptor-binding trigger molecule
- antagonistOne who opposes another
- partial agonistLigand producing submaximal effect
mu · kappa · delta · half-life · bioavailability · metabolism · blood-brain barrier · euphoria · sedation · constipation
- medicationspills, Tylenol, capsules, tablets, Xanax
- Substancesmatter, elements, compounds, molecules, atoms
- drugsibuprofen, marijuana, aspirin, meth, cocaine
- pharmaceuticalsanalgesics, medicines, anesthetics, pills, acetaminophen
- Neuroactive Drugsdopamine, serotonin, GABA, acetylcholine, norepinephrine
- pain reliefaspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen, Tylenol
opioidnonopioid
Painkiller without morphine-class compounds
NSAID · anti-inflammatory · ibuprofen · acetaminophen · aspirin
opioidnaloxone
Opioid overdose antidote
naltrexone · Narcan · stimulant · amphetamine · caffeine
- opioid crisisMass addiction emergency
- opioid epidemicMass addiction to painkillers
- synthetic opioidsLaboratory-created pain-blocking drugs
- opioid recoveryOvercoming narcotic substance dependence
- opioid withdrawalSymptoms after stopping narcotics
- opioid addictOne dependent on narcotics