Opioid use disorder and rehabilitation

[Luis Fok]

“Opioid” is a term for a number of natural substances (originally derived from the opium poppy) and their semisynthetic and synthetic analogues that bind to specific opioid receptors. Opioids are potent analgesics that are also common drugs of abuse because of their wide availability and euphoriant properties. See also Opioid Analgesics and Opioid Toxicity and Withdrawal.
Heroin is commonly abused, and abuse of prescription analgesic opioids (eg, morphine , oxycodone , hydrocodone, fentanyl ) is increasing; some of the increase is due to people who began taking them for legitimate medical purposes. Patients with chronic pain requiring long-term use should not be routinely labeled addicts, although they commonly have tolerance and physical dependence. People who take opioids parenterally are at risk of all the complications of injection drug use.
The problem of opioid use is a global concern, and in the US specifically, opioid use and deaths from overdose have increased significantly over recent years.