Opioid Use, Misuse and Dependency - May 14, 2024

Opioids, both legal (e.g., oxycodone, hydrocodone)  and illegal (e.g., heroin, illicitly manufactured synthetic opioids)  are drugs that reduce the body?s perception of pain and can result in euphoria. Opioid use disorder is increasing at alarming rates for both men and women in North America (focus will be on Canadian context). Topics to be covered will include pain and pain management, biological pathways to substance use disorders, social pathways to substance use disorders, myths and facts about opioid overdose, overdose awareness and prevention (e.g. naloxone administration, changing response to crisis and community access to naloxone and its implications), risk of fentanyl on public health.