Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a mental health condition in which a problematic pattern of opioid misuse causes distress and/or impairs your daily life.

OUD exists on a spectrum and may be mild, moderate or severe. It typically involves an overpowering drive to use opioids despite consequences, increased opioid tolerance and/or withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking opioids.

Opioid use disorder is a chronic (lifelong) condition with serious potential consequences, including disability, overdoses, relapses and death.

An opioid is a class of drugs that includes natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic compounds. These substances interact with specific receptors in the body and brain known as opioid receptors.

The primary effect of opioids is to reduce the perception of pain, and they are often used as powerful pain-relief medications.

Opioids can also produce other effects, such as feelings of euphoria and relaxation, which can lead to their misuse and addiction.

Based on preliminary data, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approximates that there were over 108,000 deaths due to drug overdoses during the 12-month period ending in April 2022.

While various categories of drugs play a role in overdose fatalities, opioids were responsible for nearly 75% of all drug overdose deaths in 2020.

The opioid crisis was officially declared a public health emergency nationwide on October 27, 2017.

As of June 2021, synthetic opioids were implicated in roughly 87% of opioid-related deaths and 65% of all drug overdose deaths.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is used medically to treat severe pain, but it is also illegally manufactured and sold as a recreational drug. Illicit fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, or sold in counterfeit pills.

Fentanyl is the most dangerous opioid in the United States. It is involved in more overdose deaths than any other drug. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has stated that fentanyl is the "most prevalent and the most significant synthetic opioid threat to the United States."

Opioids produce feelings of euphoria which increase the odds that people will continue using them despite negative consequences. Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a chronic disorder, with serious potential consequences including disability, relapses and death.

While opioid use disorder shares similarities with other substance use disorders, it possesses several distinctive characteristics. Notably, opioids can induce physical dependence relatively quickly, sometimes in as little as 4 to 8 weeks. This means that the body becomes reliant on opioids to function normally, and abrupt cessation of opioid use results in withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can include generalized pain, chills, cramps, diarrhea, dilated pupils, restlessness, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, and intense cravings. It's important to note that while opioid withdrawal is highly uncomfortable, it is generally not life-threatening. However, the severity of these symptoms often serves as a powerful motivator for individuals to continue using opioids to avoid withdrawal.

As with other substance use disorders, the risk of developing opioid use disorder is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. These factors include exposure to trauma and the ease of access to opioids. Access to prescription opioids and heroin has played a significant role in the current opioid epidemic.

According to the American Medical Association (AMA), an estimated 3% to 19% of individuals who use prescription pain medications may develop an addiction to them. Consequently, people misusing opioids may transition from prescription painkillers to heroin when it becomes more readily available. The AMA reports that approximately 45% of individuals who use heroin began their addiction with the misuse of prescription opioids.

An opioid overdose can happen when a person takes too much of an opioid or a combination of opioids and other substances, such as alcohol, sedatives or stimulants. “Too much” varies from person to person depending on their opioid tolerance and the potency (strength) of the opioid they’re using.

Treatment can help people get their lives back before it’s too late. No single treatment method is right for everyone, but research shows that combining behavioral therapy with medications for opioid use disorder is the most effective approach for overcoming opioid addiction.

When people make a recovery plan that includes medication for opioid use disorder, their chances of success increase.

These medications can be effective for treatment of addiction to prescription opioids, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and codeine.

Medications used in the treatment of opioid use disorder can help normalize brain chemistry, relieve cravings, and in some cases prevent withdrawal symptoms, thereby supporting a person’s recovery.