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In contrast to other painkillers, opioids are a type of drug that is quite dangerous if consumed without a doctor's prescription. This is because opioid drugs are included in the narcotic class so that they can cause addiction to the wearer.

Opioids, painkillers that are classified as narcotics

Opioids are pain relievers with doses strong enough that they are only prescribed by a doctor, not over the counter. Oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, tramadol, and heroin, including opioid drugs that are usually quite widely used in the medical world.

This pain reliever drug is not used to treat minor types of pain such as headaches. However, these drugs are usually prescribed to help reduce severe pain such as after surgery or when you have cancer. In addition, opioids are one of the strongest anesthetics used in surgical procedures.

The effect of using opioid drugs carelessly without a doctor's prescription

When prescribing opioids, doctors already know the safe dosages. That way, even though it is a drug with a strong enough effect, opioids will not harm your health. However, it's a different story if you consume it carelessly without a doctor's prescription and even abuse it. You are at risk of various problems such as addiction and overdose.

1. Addiction

Over time, opioids can change how the brain works. When this drug travels through the blood and attaches to opioid receptors in brain cells, spinal cord, and other parts of the body, the brain releases signals that block pain and increase the sensation of excitement.

Well, many people use this drug only for the purpose of getting that joyful sensation. People then use it carelessly. As a result, it will be very difficult to stop taking this one drug. It is in this condition that a person is categorized as experiencing addiction.

Drug addiction makes it difficult for you to resist the urge to take it even though you already know it's dangerous. So when the opioid effect wears off, you go crazy and want this very high feeling of happiness to come back by taking the drug again.

2. Overdose

Taking the same dose of opioids no longer overwhelms you with strong feelings of happiness. This opioid can trigger the production of endorphins. Endorphins are chemical compounds in the body that can increase feelings of pleasure.

Therefore, you need to continue to increase the dose until this feeling of happiness returns to the way it was originally used. Ultimately, this condition puts you at risk for an overdose.

In addition to doses that are too high, opioid overdoses also occur due to frequent consumption or mixing of opioids with illegal drugs and alcohol.

Quoted from Medline Plus, people who experience an opioid overdose will experience various symptoms such as:

• Pale face
• Limp body
• Nails or lips are purple or blue
• Throws up
• Unconscious
• Cannot talk to
• Breath and heart rate slow down, even stop. This condition can cause the brain to become deprived of oxygen and permanent damage to death.

If people around you experience one or more of these symptoms, seek help immediately or take it to the nearest emergency room.