Opioids: What to know

  • You may have heard people talking about opioids and not even realized it. “Oxy” (OxyContin or Oxycodone), “Percs” (Percocet), and “Vikes” (Vicodin) are all slang terms for opioid pills. (1)(2)

  • Opioid misuse can cause addiction. Opioids are among the most addictive drugs. This is why some people continue to use opioids despite negative consequences. (1)

  • Opioid misuse can lead to overdose. One of the ways opioids work to relax your body is by slowing down your breathing. When misused, opioids can slow your breathing too much. This can cause you to stop breathing entirely and lead to an ovedose. (1) See below to find out how naloxone can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

 

CLICK FOR MORE INFO

To learn more about risks associated with opioid abuse and what to do in case of an overdose, explore the links below:

 

CLICK TO LEARN MORE

CLICK TO READ MORE

Fentanyl: What to Know

 

  • Fentanyl is an opioid drug that is 80-100 times more powerful than morphine. (2)

  • Drug dealers are mixing fentanyl with other drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA. This is because it takes very little to produce a high with fentanyl, making it a cheaper option. (1)

  • The high potency of fentanyl greatly increases risk of overdose, especially if the person who uses is unaware that a powder or pill contains it. They can underestimate the dose they are taking, resulting in overdose. (1)

  • Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths. In 2017, 59% percent of opioid-related deaths involved fentanyl. (1)

  • Just two milligrams of fentanyl is enough to cause a lethal overdose. (3) In 2021, 42% of drugs seized from the illicit market contained at least 2mg of fentanyl. (3)

 

LETHAL DOSE OF FENTANYL

 
 
 

Prevelance of Fentanyl in Opioid Market

In 2013, 99% of opioid seizures produced heroin, while only 1% produced fentanyl. In 2021, only 23% of seizures produced heroin, while 52% produced fentanyl. (3)
 
“Are you going to listen? Or will it be your family and your friends, holding your picture?”
— Dominic Tierno