Opioid & Prescription Drug Misuse Prevention
Opioids attach to receptors in the brain and body, blocking pain signals like a key fitting into a lock. But they also affect other areas, leading to side effects like drowsiness, constipation, slowed breathing, and addiction.
How Do Opioids Work?
Opioids are powerful pain-relieving drugs that are meant to be used short-term after an injury or surgery. They include prescription medications like oxycodone, morphine, and fentanyl, as well as illegal drugs like heroin.
What Are Opioids?
Why Are Opioids Risky?
🚨 High doses = higher risk of addiction, overdose, and death.
🚨 Tolerance builds quickly, meaning people need more to feel the same effect.
🚨 Over time, opioids change how the brain works, making it hard to stop using them.
Different Types of Opioids
✅ Short-acting opioids (oxycodone, morphine) work fast and last a few hours.
✅ Long-acting opioids (OxyContin, fentanyl patches) stay in the body longer but have a higher risk of overdose.
Opiates vs. Opioids:
Opiates come from natural sources (like the opium poppy) – examples: morphine, heroin, codeine.
Opioids include both natural opiates and lab-made drugs (synthetic and semi-synthetic).
Why Is Misusing Prescription Drugs Dangerous?
Misusing prescription drugs means taking them in a way that wasn’t prescribed, such as:
- Taking someone else's medication
- Taking more than prescribed
- Using the drug to get high
This can lead to:
- Addiction – Your brain starts craving the drug, making it hard to stop.
- Overdose – Taking too much can slow down your breathing and even be fatal.
- Mixing Dangers – Combining opioids with alcohol or other drugs increases the risk of overdose.
The Fentanyl Factor
💀 Fentanyl is 50x stronger than heroin and 100x stronger than morphine.
💀 Just 2 mg (size of a grain of salt) can be deadly.
💀 It’s often mixed into fake pills and other drugs without people knowing.
👉 You can’t see, smell, or taste fentanyl.
👉 One pill or hit could be laced with fentanyl—no second chances.
The Danger of Tolerance & Overdose
If someone stops using opioids for even a short time, their body loses tolerance. If after stopping for a time a person then take the same dose as before, it can cause an overdose because their body isn’t used to it anymore.
💡 The safest way to take opioids? Only as prescribed, and only when truly needed.
💡 Never take pills from a friend or off the street.
🛑You never know what’s in them!
🚨Did you know?
✔️ Most teens who misuse prescription drugs get them from friends or family.
✔️ Just because a doctor prescribes it doesn’t mean it’s safe for everyone.
✔️ There are safer ways to manage pain—talk to a trusted adult if you’re ever unsure.
Tips on how YOU can make safe choices:
💡 Think Before You Take – Only take medications prescribed to YOU, and only as directed.
💡 Lock It Up – Keep prescriptions secure so they don’t get into the wrong hands.
💡 Speak Up – If you know someone misusing opioids, encourage them to get help.
💡 Learn About Narcan – Narcan (naloxone) can reverse an opioid overdose. Ask about it at a pharmacy or community center.
Interested in receiving Emergency Narcan Delivery Training? Fill out Inquiry Form
Narcan Training Form
Need Help? You’re Not Alone.
If you or someone you know is struggling with prescription drug misuse, talk to a trusted adult or reach out for help:
📞 Call or text 988 – Crisis support is available 24/7.
💻To find treatment and resources near you visit:
Youth Substance Use & Mental Health Services in CT
Connecticut Teen Residential Treatment Centers | Newport Academy
Test your knowledge!
Opioid Awareness Quiz