Opioids
Opioids are a class of substances that reduce pain, including physical pain, psychological pain, and emotional pain. An individual can develop a physiological dependence to opioids, experience opioid withdrawal symptoms between doses or use, and ultimately, develop opioid use disorder.
Opioids can be naturally occurring (derived from the poppy plant-opium), semi-synthetic (made in a lab but similar in structure to naturally-occurring opioids), or synthetic (made in a lab and not similar in structure to naturally occurring opioids). Opioids attach to opioid receptors in the brain to reduce pain but cause additional effects like drowsiness.
Currently, the most commonly used opioids are:
- Prescription opioids: oxycodone, hydrocodone, oxymorphone, morphine, codeine, fentanyl
- Illicitly manufactured opioids: heroin and fentanyl
Illicitly manufactured fentanyl are markedly more potent than opioid medications or heroin. As small as three (3) milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal. Substances containing fentanyl are the biggest contributor to increasing numbers of overdose and death.
Local Data
In the 2018 Madison County Teen Assessment Project (TAP) Report, about 1.5% of students reported using heroin or other opiates at least once on the 2018 TAP Survey, down from 3% of the students surveyed in 2014.
The rate of opioid-related deaths increased in 2021 among residents in Madison County, Central New York, and New York State (excluding New York City).