Opioid Basics
What are opioids used for
Pain management
Most accidental apparent opioid toxicity deaths occurred among...
Males
People can quit opioids anytime if they really want to
Myth: Opioid withdrawal is extremely difficult and requires medical support
Name two ways of consumption
Oral, injection, nasal
How many opioid-related deaths occurred in Alberta in 2023?
At least 1,700 deaths
Opioid addiction only happens to people who use illegal drugs
Myth: People can develop opioid dependence from prescription painkillers
Name a type of prescription opioid
Morphine, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Codeine, Fentanyl, Methadone
Which three Canadian provinces has the highest opioid-related death rates?
British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario
Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose within minutes and has no effect on people who haven’t taken opioids
Fact
What part of the body do opioids act on to reduce pain?
The opioid receptors in the brain
How many people die daily in Canada from opioid overdoses?
Approximately 20 people per day
More opioid prescriptions automatically mean more overdoses
Myth: Many overdoses now involve illicit opioids, not just prescription opioids