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Innovation in Context Essay: Opioids

Innovation

Opioids are a class of drugs that play a critical role in relieving pain. It is naturally extracted in the opium poppy plant. Opioids work with the brain to produce different effects. Many prescriptive opioids are useful in blocking pain signals between the body and brain and are characteristically prescribed to provide severe pain medication. Also, it is applied in controlling pain by making a person feel happy, relaxed, and high. However, the disadvantageous part of it is that it is an addictive drug with severe side effects such as drowsiness, confusion, nausea, constipation, and slowed breathing.

Opioids are sometimes considered narcotic drugs. However, they do not fall in the same category as the over-the-counter painkillers, like Tylenol and aspirin, because they relieve an individual from pain. There are six commonly available opioids. The first opioid is the prescription opioids like Vicodin and OxyContin. The second widely used opioid is fentanyl, which is considered a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times more potent compared to morphine. The third and last commonly used opioid is heroin. Heroin is currently considered an illegal drug. The fourth commonly prescribed opioid is codeine, the fifth is morphine, and the sixth commonly used opioid is oxymorphone (Ratini, 2020).

Role in a particular context

Opioids are strong analgesics extracted from the opium poppy plant. The analgesics are recognized as the crucial drugs in managing and controlling cancer pain and acute pain. However, the long-term use of these drugs is related to risks. The drugs need to be used with cautiousness during chronic pain management (Telford, 2020). The prescription of opioids for pain relief usually is safe when taken for a short duration. The prescription needs to be done by a qualified doctor to prevent misuse. The misuse includes not following the prescription instructions, taking another person's drug prescription, and taking medicine to be high on substance use.

The regular use of opioids prescriptions can increase a person's dependence and tolerance, requiring more frequency and in a higher quantity of doses. The misuse of opioids can restrict the capability to breathe, especially when overdosing or misused. The risk of respiratory depression increases if a person has never taken an opioid drug before or takes other medications that might react with the opioid drug. The drug should only be used when experiencing acute pains, including it as an alternative to control and relieve pain. A person with acute pain needs to review their current medications and disclosing information regarding the past or present drug use with their doctors when discussing the right opioid drug for a prescription. You might be at risk when prescribed to use opioids medication if you have personal issues or the family has a history of substance abuse. You need to be honest with your doctors regarding your current and past medications so that the doctor can recommend the best alternatives to relieve pain. You have to follow the recommendations provided by your health care provider or doctor for the better results of the treatment (Johns Hopkins Medicine).

According to the World Health Organization (2020), misuse, prolonged use, and non-medical use without medical supervision and prescription can lead to addiction and other health problems. Opioids dependence,...