How can opium kill you

Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Go Paperless with Digital. Saving Lives with an Opioid Antidote Naloxone can short-circuit that deadly spiral. Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter. Sign Up. Support science journalism.

Knowledge awaits. See Subscription Options Already a subscriber? Create Account See Subscription Options. Continue reading with a Scientific American subscription. Subscribe Now You may cancel at any time. When you take too much of these medicines, symptoms become much more serious. Symptoms may develop in many body systems:. In most states, Naloxone, the antidote for opiate overdose, is available from the pharmacy without a prescription. Naloxone is available as an intranasal spray, as well as an intramuscular injection and other FDA-approved product forms.

Your local poison control center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions. This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number.

You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The health care provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. View Center. Norcross, GA. Louisville, TN. Asheville, NC. Murfreesboro, TN. Valdosta, GA. Lancaster, SC.

Nashville, TN. Burns, TN. Bowling Green, KY. Galax, VA. Memphis, TN. Crescent City, FL. Salem, VA. Call A treatment facility paid to have their center promoted here. Learn more about how to be featured in a paid listing. Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Chats will be received and answered by one of treatment providers listed below, each of which is a paid advertiser:. The Opioid Epidemic The Opioid epidemic is a national catastrophe.

Every state and all demographics have been tragically impacted by this crisis. Start the road to recovery. Get a Call. Questions about treatment?

Call now for: Access to top treatment centers Caring, supportive guidance Financial assistance options An addiction to Painkillers often begins after someone is prescribed the medication for pain following an accident or injury. Patients are given a prescription and specified dose from a doctor; often patients have no intention of abusing the medication. However, over a period of time, a person may feel that the drug is no longer as effective as it was in the beginning.

A tolerance can also cause a person to take doses larger than their recommended amount in order to achieve the effects they want. Increasing the medication dosage can lead to a physical dependence whereby the user needs to continue taking the drug to feel normal.

Eventually a physical dependence can lead to cravings, which are characterized by growing urges to continue using the drug despite negative consequences that may occur.

Addiction is far more serious than a strong desire to use drugs — it is a neurological disease that feels inescapable to the person suffering. An individual who struggles with a substance abuse disorder will often wish to quit but feel unable to do so on their own. The only way a person can fully overcome the grips of an addiction to Opioid Painkillers is by seeking treatment at an inpatient rehab center. Learn More. Opiates are prescribed for a wide range of medical needs.

There are two main classifications for this type of drug: antagonists and agonists. Antagonists, such as Naltrexone and Naloxone , are considered to be less addictive than agonists, though the potential for abuse still exists. They are often used to help with the detoxification process, which often takes place as the first part of addiction treatment.

Agonists mimic the effects of naturally-occurring endorphins in the body and produce an Opiate effect by interacting with specific receptor sites in the brain. Agonists include drugs like Morphine and Fentanyl , which are most commonly used in medical settings and have the strongest effects.

Many substances in this category have a very high potential for abuse and addiction. Other examples of agonists include Hydrocodone , Oxycodone , Heroin , and Buprenorphine. Manufactured to relieve mild to moderate pain and coughing, Codeine is less potent than other Opioid Painkillers. It is easily obtained with a prescription and is present in some over-the-counter medicines. While prescriptions for these drugs are no longer written, a black market still exists for the substances.

Demerol A Narcotic used to treat moderate to severe pain, Demerol is less frequently prescribed in modern times because of its high potential for addiction. Demerol is the brand name for Meperidine, which has euphoric effects similar to Morphine. Available in extended-release tablets, Dilaudid abuse can quickly lead to breathing problems or even death. Fentanyl A Synthetic Painkiller that is up to times as potent as Morphine, Fentanyl is only prescribed in cases of severe pain.

When used in conjunction with other Painkillers such as Heroin, Fentanyl can quickly lead to overdose and other dangerous side effects. Hydrocodone A main ingredient in many powerful Painkillers, Hydrocodone can be found in drugs such as Vicodin. Methadone An Opioid used for moderate to severe pain, Methadone is also used as a way to curb cravings for people who are addicted to other substances, including Heroin. Despite its use in helping to treat other addictions, Methadone is still an addictive substance in its own right.

Morphine Morphine has been touted as a godsend for people suffering from severe chronic pain. It is also one of the most addictive substances known and responsible for a large amount of unintentional drug-related deaths nationwide. Oxycodone Oxycodone is sold under brand names including OxyContin and Percocet. It is a widely prescribed Painkiller and has a high potential for abuse.