DrugFacts National Institute on Drug Abuse NIDA

However, the types of opioids involved have changed over time. Side effects from naloxone are rare, but people might have allergic reactions to the medicine. But it only reverses an overdose in people with opioids in their systems and will not reverse overdoses from other drugs like cocaine or methamphetamine. Naloxone is being used more by police officers, emergency medical technicians, and non-emergency first responders than before. In most states, people who are at risk or who know someone at risk for an opioid overdose can be trained on how to give naloxone.

Illegal Drug Addiction

People with physical dependence on opioids may have withdrawal symptoms within minutes after they are given naloxone. Withdrawal symptoms might include headaches, changes in blood pressure, rapid heart rate, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and tremors. While this is uncomfortable, it is usually not life threatening.

What is fentanyl’s role in the overdose and addiction crisis?

Repeated fentanyl use can lead to dependence, which means that the person’s body gets used to the presence of the drug. Fentanyl can have negative health effects, even when taken as prescribed. These effects may include confusion, drowsiness, nausea, visual disturbances, constipation, muscle stiffness, and many others. When taking a prescription medication, always follow a doctor’s instructions and take the medication exactly as they prescribed it. When in doubt about the correct dosage, consult with a doctor or pharmacist.

• According to the National Harm Reduction Coalition, ingesting too much of one or multiple drugs can harm the body.
• Anyone experiencing a substance use disorder should seek treatment to address their symptoms.
• The emergency and referral resources listed above are available to individuals located in the United States and are not operated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
• Naloxone is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose.
• See the impact of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids on drug overdose deaths.

Families can ask their pharmacists or health care provider how to use the devices. Fentanyl is synthetic, which means it is made entirely in laboratories and has no natural ingredients. It was developed as a prescription medicine for treating severe pain, such as pain after surgery. Drug dependence occurs with repeated use, causing Drug Overdose Facts the neurons to adapt so they only function normally in the presence of the drug. The absence of the drug causes several physiological reactions, ranging from mild in the case of caffeine, to potentially life-threatening, such as with heroin.

• Pregnant people with untreated opioid use disorder who do not receive appropriate prenatal care are at increased risk of serious and potentially fatal pregnancy complications.
• Semi-synthetic opioids, such as heroin and the pain relievers oxycodone, hydrocodone, and oxymorphone, are made in laboratories by chemically processing natural opioids.
• This can lead to breathing difficulties, lowered heart rate, seizures, and loss of consciousness.
• The United States is in the middle of a devastating opioid epidemic, and its deadliest driver is fentanyl.

Read more about fentanyl

Some drug companies have cost assistance programs for patients unable to pay for it. They may be available through state and local health departments, syringe services programs, or drug stores and online retailers. The first step when responding to an overdose of any kind is to contact emergency services.

Quick Facts about Fentanyl

Prescription medications such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), morphine, codeine, fentanyl, and others are mainly used for the treatment of pain. However, like illegal opioids, prescription opioids can be addictive, particularly if they are misused. Naloxone is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. This means that it attaches to opioid receptors and reverses and blocks the effects of other opioids.

For more recent provisional data, please see Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts from NCHS. Similar data related to nonfatal drug overdoses are reported through CDC’s Drug Overdose Surveillance and Epidemiology (DOSE) system. Naloxone works to reverse opioid overdose in the body for only 30 to 90 minutes.

What are the health risks of using opioids?

It is important that comprehensive, community-based prevention and response efforts incorporate evidence-based interventions to address differences in drug overdose deaths. Evidence-based prevention interventions are informed by research and practice. Dissemination can be strengthened by partnerships and can be tailored and scaled up to meet local circumstances. This webpage is regularly updated to display the most recent final drug overdose death data published annually by NCHS. NCHS systems receive and analyze data from death certificates, including cause-of-death information reported by state and local medical examiners and coroners.

Medications to treat opioid use disorder during pregnancy

These medications carry a high risk of addiction and overdose, especially if taken outside a doctor’s directions. This can include taking any amount of someone else’s medication or more than the doctor prescribed. One way CDC is working to address drug overdoses is to advance overdose prevention in communities across the country. There were two funding announcements made available in 2023 for city, county, state, and territorial health departments known as the Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) cooperative agreements. These funding opportunities support innovation, expand prevention strategies, link people to life-saving care, and make the latest data available to help get ahead of the constantly evolving epidemic. See the impact of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids on drug overdose deaths.

The United States is in the middle of a devastating opioid epidemic, and its deadliest driver is fentanyl. This synthetic opioid, far more potent than heroin, is fueling a tragic and alarming surge in overdose deaths. Opioids are involved in the majority of deaths in the drug overdose crisis in the United States.

These alarming statistics highlight the urgent need for change. We must address the factors contributing to the fentanyl crisis on multiple fronts. Despite the devastating impact of the opioid crisis, it's important to remember that recovery is possible.

Opioid overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death in New York City and in the United States, surpassing even motor vehicle accidents. Overdose deaths are preventable, and, with naloxone, you can save a life. Naloxone should be given to any person who shows signs of an opioid overdose or when an overdose is suspected. Naloxone can be given as a nasal spray or it can be injected into the muscle, under the skin, or into the veins. Steps for responding to an opioid overdose can be found in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA) Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit. Anyone experiencing symptoms of an overdose should seek emergency medical care immediately.

Even after administering this medication, it is crucial to take anyone experiencing an opioid overdose to the emergency room. A drug overdose may occur when an individual consumes too much of a substance. Opioids, stimulants, and other substances can all cause an overdose. Responding quickly can help prevent serious health consequences. The fastest growing drug category among OD deaths is synthetic opioids, and many opioid deaths involve other drugs. The emergency and referral resources listed above are available to individuals located in the United States and are not operated by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).