Opioids are a group of drugs that are used to reduce or manage pain. They can be prescribed by doctors to help treat pain by acting on specific nerve cells of the spinal cord and brain.
Opioids affect the part of the brain that controls breathing. Taking opioids in high doses can cause you to stop breathing, leading to unconsciousness and even death.
Common types of opioids include oxycodone, morphine, hydromorphone, fentanyl, and codeine.
- What You Need to Know
- Signs of an Overdose
- Responding to an Overdose
- Where Can I Get a Naloxone Kit?
- How to Use Intranasal Naloxone
- How is NWT Responding?
- Posters
The Government of Canada has more information on opioids and opioid overdose:
- What are opioids?
- What are the side effects of using opioids?
- What are the risks of opioid abuse?
- How can you help prevent opioid abuse?
Resources:
- facethefentanyl
- Gone Too Soon – The Dangers of Fentanyl
- Opioid Pain Medications Frequently Asked Questions (Health Canada)
- Opioid-related harms and deaths in Canada (Government of Canada)
- Opioids toolkit (Government of Canada)