The Crisis
About this many people die each year from opioid overdoses.
~70,000
Natural compounds from poppy plants are called this.
Opiates
This drug overtook oxycodone and heroin around 2013
Fentanyl
Most opioid overdose deaths occur because of this
Respiratory depression (can’t breathe)
The “feel good” chemical opioids cause to surge in the brain reward system.
Dopamine
Early 2000s opioid commonly known by a brand name.
Oxycodone / OxyContin
The umbrella term for any drug that binds opioid receptors.
Opioids
Fentanyl is about this many times stronger than heroin
~50×
The medication that can reverse an opioid overdose.
Naloxone / Narcan
One reason withdrawal feels so brutal: the body becomes extremely sensitive to this.
Pain
One major factor blamed in the crisis related to drug companies.
Pharmaceutical greed / malpractice
Two examples of natural opiates mentioned.
Morphine and codeine
Fentanyl is about this many times stronger than morphine.
~100×
he brain area mentioned that helps control breathing rhythms.
Brain stem
Opioids bind mainly to this receptor type (the “main one” discussed)
Mu receptor
Illicit fentanyl was said to be coming from these countries
China, Mexico, India
Drugs made inside the body that bind opioid receptors are called this
Endogenous opioids
A tiny amount of fentanyl that can be fatal, often cited in the video.
~2 milligram
The brand name commonly used for naloxone.
Narcan
Opioids can trigger immediate withdrawal if this reversal drug is given.
Naloxone / Narcan
Fentanyl is often disguised as these “legit” meds in fake pills.
Xanax or Adderall
Opioids coming from an outside source are called this.
Exogenous opioids
Two legitimate medical uses mentioned for fentanyl.
Severe pain (e.g., cancer pain) and anesthesia/epidural
Overdose happens because opioids saturate receptors in breathing-control areas, leading to this outcome.
Stopping breathing or respiratory depression
Opioids create addiction partly by turning off this inhibitory neurotransmitter in the reward pathway.
GABA