WHAT ARE OPIOIDS? Opioids include prescription medications used to treat pain such as morphine, codeine, methadone, oxycodone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, hydromorphone, and buprenorphine, as well as illegal drugs such as heroin and illicit potent opioids such as fentanyl analogs (e.g., carfentanil).

Opioids work by binding to specific receptors in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract. In doing so, they diminish the body’s perception of pain. However, opioids can also have an impact on other systems of the body, such as altering mood, slowing breathing, and causing constipation. Opioid receptor binding causes the signs and symptoms of overdose as well as the euphoric effects or “high” with opioid use.

Tribal Opioid Response

The goal is to increase access to culturally appropriate and evidence-based treatment services to reduce the unmet treatment needs and opioid overdose related deaths and stimulant use through prevention, treatment, and recovery support services.

Opioids are a group of chemically similar drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription (oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, and others). Besides being used for pain relief, opioids work and interact with opioid receptors on nerve cells in the body to produce euphoria (feeling happy).

Unfortunately, opioids may be misused (taken differently than medically prescribed) leading to dependence, overdose-related incidents, or in severe cases, death.

Various evidence-based approaches to drug addiction treatment are used. Three FDA- approved medications (i.e., methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone) are available to manage symptoms to promote abstinence.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2017) reports, American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) have the 2nd highest overdose rates from all opioids (15.7 deaths per 100,000 individuals) compared to other racial/ethnic groups.