With the recent development of a new fentanyl vaccine, researchers say that it could have the potential to block fentanyl from entering the brain. Now that this innovative research has been released to the public, people are wondering if this new vaccine could have the ability to revolutionize the opioid crisis. The opioid crisis has…
Chronic pain is common in those suffering from drug addiction. This pain often leads to an abuse of prescriptions medications as a last-ditch attempt to feel better physically. What might be less obvious is that misalignments in the spine interfere with the normal functioning of neurotransmitters that could have been affected by substance use, making…
Opioids are a group of drugs that doctors commonly prescribe for pain. Beyond just reducing pain though, they also cause the body to release dopamine, a chemical responsible for feelings of pleasure. This makes opioids a highly-addictive substance because the body is easily hooked on the high they provide. Opioid users are always in danger…
Opioids are a class of drug commonly prescribed for pain relief. The category includes prescriptions like oxycodone, morphine, and fentanyl alongside the illicit drug heroin. Their use in pain management means they are applied following major surgery, in response to injury, and even for treatment related to some kinds of cancer. Whether or not someone…
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. It’s similar to morphine, though much stronger. Also like morphine, its main medical use is to alleviate strong pain following intensive surgery. Medical professionals use fentanyl to address chronic pain in people who naturally tolerate other varieties of opioid. Synthetic opioids, a group that includes fentanyl, have in recent years…
OxyContin, also commonly referred to as oxycodone, is a commonly prescribed opioid painkiller. Due to its strength, OxyContin is generally used in cases where people have developed tolerances to other opioid painkillers or are experiencing severe pain. Like many strong painkillers, OxyContin comes with side effects. Moreover, OxyContin can be addictive and lead to painkiller…
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid often prescribed for patients with severe pain, such as following major surgery, or those with chronic pain for whom other opioids prove ineffective. It is similar to morphine, except that it can be up to 100 times more powerful. This potency means fentanyl can be highly addictive. In recent years,…
As a highly powerful opioid, fentanyl is never safe to use without a doctor’s supervision. It takes a very small amount of this drug to create a high risk for addiction and overdose. For those who are using it now, suddenly stopping it can lead to intense fentanyl withdrawal, a painful experience most people cannot…
Opioid addiction is a serious public health crisis impacting many areas of the country. Men and women don’t start out hoping to develop an addiction. Yet, circumstances such as over-prescription and chronic pain have led to opioid abuse and addiction, and it can impact people regardless of their financial circumstances, age, or background. For many,…