Opioids are very strong painkillers.
Opioid medicines include codeine, morphine (MS-Contin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), oxycodone (OxyNeo), fentanyl (Duragesic), meperidine (Demerol), tramadol, and diamorphine (medical heroin).
Some opioids may be combined with drugs like Aspirin (ASA) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) to give more pain relief.
Opioids often come as a tablet that you swallow. When used in ways they weren't meant to be used, they may also be injected, inhaled (snorted), or smoked.
Taking opioids with alcohol or other drugs such as antidepressants or sleeping pills is dangerous—you can have trouble breathing and go into a coma.
You can be fined or go to jail for making or selling opioids, carrying opioids without a prescription, and prescription shopping (getting more than 1 opioid prescription from different doctors without telling them).
Using opioids can create an unsafe environment for your baby or child. Exposure to even a tiny amount of any drugs, including ecstasy, methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, can make your baby or child very sick or cause death. Exposure can happen in different ways, like:
- breathing in second-hand smoke or vapour from drugs
- being exposed through breastfeeding or breastmilk
- transferring from clothing, hands, or skin to a baby or child’s body, toys, soothers, bottles, and other items
- during diaper changes
- accidentally eating or touching drugs
Babies and children are in contact with their caregivers and everything in their environment, so exposure can happen in many places, like:
-
in your home and other homes
- in vehicles
- in public places
- in parks and playgrounds
Keep all drugs and drug-related items, like bongs, pipes, lighters, needles, spoons, and fentanyl patches, locked up, out of sight, and out of reach of children. Anyone who comes in contact with drugs or drug-related items should:
- wash their hands before handling or feeding a baby or child
- wash their hands before touching toys or other items
- change their clothes before handling a baby or child
Short-term effects
Besides pain relief and strong feelings of excitement and pleasure, opioids can cause:
- nausea and vomiting
- constipation (trouble having a bowel movement)
- drowsiness
- tiny pupils
- vision problems (such as blurry vision, or trouble seeing in the dark)
- anxiety
- trouble concentrating
- decreased appetite
Low doses of opioids can affect your driving. Higher doses can lower your heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. Very high doses can cause disorientation, convulsions, and hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that aren't there).
Long-term effects
Using opioids for a long time can cause many problems, including:
- depression
- trouble concentrating and sleeping
- sexual problems
- very serious constipation
- lower levels of endorphins (your body's natural painkillers), so even minor pain feels very bad
Using opioids with ASA for a long time can cause stomach bleeding. Using opioids with acetaminophen for a long time can cause kidney and liver damage.
Dependence
If you use a lot of opioids, you may need to use more and more to feel the same effects. Your body and mind can become dependent (addicted) to how opioids make you feel.
If you are dependent on opioids while pregnant, your baby could go through withdrawal and be very sick after they're born.
You have a higher chance of becoming dependent on opioids if you have a history of alcohol use or other substance use. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist so you can get right choice of medicines for pain control.
Withdrawal
If you are dependent on opioids and you stop using them, you may have withdrawal symptoms such as:
- craving (a strong desire to use the opioid)
- runny nose and yawning
- sweating
- trouble sleeping
- weakness
- nausea or vomiting
- stomach cramps and diarrhea
- muscle spasms or bone pain
- chills or goose bumps
- irritability
Mild withdrawal symptoms usually start between 12 and 30 hours after the last time the drug was taken. The worst symptoms pass within a few days, but it can take months to feel normal.
Withdrawal can be painful. A healthcare provider can help you withdraw safely.
Opioid poisoning
Opioid poisoning (overdose) can cause you to
stop breathing and die.
If you're at risk of opioid poisoning, never use alone and have
naloxone available. Naloxone reverses the poisoning effects and keeps you breathing until you get emergency medical help.
Questions
If you're concerned about your or someone else's opioid use, or you want to learn more about substance use, call the Addiction and Mental Health 24 Helpline, any time of the day or night, at 1-866-332-2322 (Alberta only).
