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Opioids: Turning the Tide in the Crisis

00000174-c556-d691-a376-cdd69e980000Day after day, week after week, the headlines in Northeast Ohio and across much of the country contain news of tragic loss: lives lost to opioids. It’s a problem that knows no bounds: geography, race, gender, level of education or income.The problem took on new urgency this summer as the powerful elephant sedative, Carfentanil, began hitting the streets. First responders armed with their only weapon, the overdose antidote Naloxone, have struggled to keep up with what’s become an overwhelming problem. It’s an issue that’s straining public and social resources. What has become clear is that business as usual is not going to fix the problem.WKSU news has been covering the unfolding crisis. Tuesdays during Morning Edition, the WKSU news team digs even deeper. WKSU reporters will examine what’s led us here and what might be done to turn the tide. Support for Opioids: Turning the Tide in the Crisis comes from Wayne Savings Community Bank, Kent State University Office of Continuing and Distance Education, Hometown Grocery Delivery, Mercy Medical Center, AxessPointe Community Health Center, Community Support Services, Inc., Medina County District Library and Hudson Community First.00000174-c556-d691-a376-cdd69e980001

WKSU's Opioid FAQ

Ideastream Public Media | By Andrew Meyer

Published January 16, 2017 at 4:29 PM EST

What is an opioid?
An opioid is one of a family of compounds that mimics the action of opium by acting on pain receptors and the brain and central nervous system, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They can be naturally derived (opium comes from poppies) or they can be synthetic (for example, Vicodin, Oxycontin, Percocet or carfentanil).

How do they work?
A series of receptors in the central nervous system respond to endorphins, heroin and synthetic analogs. Opiods attach themselves to the receptors, including the mu receptors, which are responsible for opioids’ pleasurable effects and ability to relieve pain.

What is the difference between opioids and opiates?
Opioids and opiates are essentially the same. Dictionary.com defines opiate as a drug containing opium or its derivatives. It defines opioid as an opium-like substance, group of natural substances such as endorphins produced by the body in response to pain, or any of several synthetic compounds having effects similar to natural opium alkaloids and their derivatives.

What is Heroin?
Heroin is an opioid which comes from morphine, which is extracted from the seed pod of the Asian poppy plant.

What is a synthetic opioid?
These are any of the compounds developed by pharmaceutical companies to mimic the effects of morphine, a naturally occuring opioid.

Have a question about Opioids? Email us at news@wksu.org.