OPIATES

WHAT ARE OPIATES

• Opiates are a class of drug, usually used to treat pain, that are modified versions of opium.
• Some opiates are oxycontin, fentanyl, codeine, and morphine.

ARE OPIATES AND OPIOIDS THE SAME

• Yes, they are. At one point in time opioids was referring to only synthetically made opiates, but it is now used to describe the category as a whole.

WHAT DOES THE NAME MEAN?

• The name opiates originally comes from opium, the drug that was being modified or replicated.

OPIUM

• Opium is a highly addictive narcotic drug cultivated from the poppy seed.
• Opium is rarely grown in the US, but is nightly produced in Latin America and Afghanistan.

THE BACKGROUND OF OPIUM

• Originally it was used as a pain reliever by the Romans and Greek.
• Opium commonly traveled along the Silk Road, and was brought into China and Europe, which started the Opium Wars in the 1800s. Opium dens were popular places for the drug to be bought and sold during this time.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE/HOW IS IT USED

• Opium is a versatile drug, coming in the forms of pill, powder, injectable liquid, and in a smokable form.
• Opium is a reddish brown color, with a heavy scent.

SYMPTOMS OF OPIUM

• When using Opium some symptoms are euphoric rushes, relaxation, relief of pain, slow breathing, loss of consciousness, seizures, comas, and death.

HOW DOES OPIUM AFFECT PEOPLE

• Opium is addictive, and can cause many health problems. Addiction can be both psychological or physical dependence.
• The general life expectancy for someone using opium is about 78 years.

EXTRA OPIUM FACTS

• Opium can be mixed with other drugs to make them more potent, such as methamphetamine and marijuana.
• Some common names for Opium is Black Pill, Chinese Molasses, and Big O.

OXYCODONE

• Oxycodone is a narcotic drug used to relieve pain that is untreatable using other medications.
• You need a prescription to get oxycodone, which is sold as OxyContin®.

OXYCODONE

• Oxycododne reached peak popularity in 2001-2003, when it was primarily promoted.
• It is mostly found in pill form, and is a very commonly abused drug.
• Drinking alcohol can raise the risk of negative side effects such as comas, seizures, difficulty breathing, and death.

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS OF OXYCODONE

• Some of the most common side effects are dizziness, drowsiness, feelings of extreme happiness or sadness, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or headaches.

SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS OF OXYCODONE

• Some of the more serious side effects are irregular heart rate, chest pain, hives or rash, swelling of the face, difficulty breathing, cyanosis, and seizures.

REASONS TO TAKE OXYCODONE

• Oxycodone, along with other opiates, produces euphoric feeling, extreme relaxation, pain relief, and reduced anxiety if taken as prescribed, but is also very highly addictive.

HOW COMMON IS OXYCODONE

• In 2012 about 1,477,000 people in the U.S. had used Oxycodone for non-medical purposes.
• Since 2010 use has remained steady.