Opioid Education – Understand the Facts
Even if you or someone you know is not directly affected by opioid use disorder, you never know how much you could impact a life, or even save one, by educating yourself on the facts, signs and symptoms, misconceptions, and ways to mitigate harm surrounding opioids.
Opioid Use Disorder – By the Numbers
2,521 Georgians
died from drug overdose in 2023
905% Increase
in mortality related to opioids in Georgia
1.6 million people
had an opioid use disorder in the past year
2 million people
used methamphetamine in the past year
745,000 people
used heroin in the past year, 50,000 used for the first time
1.6 million people
misused prescription pain relievers for the first time
Long-Term Exposure to Opioid Drugs
The long-term effect of opioid use is twofold, altering both the mind and the body.
Mental Effects
Over time, the brain will change its system of rewarding. OUD will condition the brain to experience good things when on opioids and bad things in their absence. This creates a cycle that’s hard to break. Opioid users also are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, and bipolar behaviors. In turn, people with opioid use disorder are more likely to use mental health services.
Physical Effects
Switching from an oral opioid to an injectable one causes the most physical damage and long-term effects, including:
- HIV
- Hepatitis B and C
- Sepsis (“blood poisoning”)
- Heart disease (infectious endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves)
Additionally, misuse of any type of drug can cause overdose and even death.
Signs of Opioid Use Disorder
Educate yourself on the common signs of an opioid dependency so you can determine if someone you know is struggling and in need of help. Signs include:
- Having a strong and persistent desire to take opioids
- Being unable to reduce the number of opioids taken
- Taking opioids frequently, in greater quantities, or over a longer period than intended
- Repeatedly using opioids in physically dangerous situations
- Starting to abandon or cut back on important social, work-related, or recreational activities
- Continuing to use opioids after having social problems or failing to fulfill obligations at work, school, or home
- Continuing to use opioids despite knowing that they are causing physical and psychological problems
- Spending a lot of time trying to obtain opioids, use opioids, or recover from their effects
Harm Reduction
There are several parts to reducing risk: ensuring that those with an active OUD take ownership for reducing risk; identifying that the quality of life – both for the individual and the community – does not necessarily count on completely stopping the use of substances; and that the very real danger of substance misuse is acknowledged.
What is Naloxone?
Naloxone is a medication that binds to a person’s opioid receptors, reverses the effect of the opioid, and blocks the effects of future opioids. This is an extremely important medication to administer at the first sign of an opioid overdose.