Introduction
A range of opioid effects, from their actions and implications in the body to how these drugs have influenced society will be discussed. In the past decade, synthetic ultra-potent opioids have become increasingly prevalent in street drugs, causing a rise in overdoses and opioid-related mortality. Mortality rates are at an all-time high in the provinces of Canada as well as the world. Ultra-potent opioids such as carfentanil added to street drugs have captured the world’s attention by bringing a whole new danger to drug use, as it is 10,000 times more potent than morphine. Although the dangers and tragedy have been incredibly present amongst society as a whole, people in power and individuals in society have banded together to do their part to lower the detrimental effects ultra-potent opioids have had on their population. From new drug testing facilities being formed to safe injection sites out of people’s homes, this drug has sparked action in everyone to stop the hold ultra-potent opioids have on society.
While the pharmacology of opioids has great variation, modern science has significantly furthered our understanding of how opioids exert their effects on the human body. To better describe how opioids function in both clinical and recreational use, we break down its function into two sections: (1) pharmacology, which comprises of administration, dosage, mechanism of action and the effects of opioids, and (2) pharmacokinetics, which addresses absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of opioids.
Opioids themselves have always carried the risk of addiction and death due to their nature. However, with the rise of ultra-potent opioids such as: carfentanil, etonitazene, and isotonitazene, these risks have only increased. As a result, signs of abuse and overdose can occur at lower doses and it’s important those using and those who know someone that is using, are aware of these details in order to avoid death and injury. When it comes to illegal drug use, mixing with other illegal and legal drugs is common and as such drug-drug interactions are almost inevitable. Some drugs and compounds can enhance ultra-potent opioids, while others can diminish the effects. These changes in effects can impact how the drug behaves within the body and can be deadly. Knowing the risks and effects of ultra-potent opioids could potentially be essential for saving someone’s life from an overdose and individuals who find themselves around ultra-potent opioids often should be highly aware, as it could be the difference between life and death.
There are three ways to treat opioid addiction. The first step during an overdose is to administer naloxone and long-term treatment involves opioid agonist therapy and/or addiction treatment counseling. If using opioids it is important to take precautions by only taking opioids that are prescribed to you and have people check in on you while using them. Using a supervised consumption service will allow users to have a safe and clean environment to take opioids. Prevention of opioid addiction can start with physicians checking in and providing informational sessions to their patients prescribed opioids. Monitoring incorrect prescribing and matching the name of the prescription to the patient picking it up are other ways to prevent the increase in opioid addiction.
CAPSTONE project by: Stephanie Campbell, Nicolette Gismondi, Abby Krotz, Leila Rigor and Braden Wood