Opioid Epidemic History: Dangers Throughout The Years

The opioid epidemic did not occur in just a single incident, as there had been cases of opioid-related overdoses and deaths all over the country for more than two decades, from 1999-2020. Within the said time frame, almost 600,000 people either died or suffered an overdose for consuming opioid drugs of any kind – which can either be prescription or not. Read on to learn more about the Opioid Epidemic History.

What is Opioid, Anyway?

Opioid refers to the type of drug that can be casually classified as narcotics or painkillers. These well-known drugs work by activating certain numbers of nerve cells known as opioid receptors, responsible for blocking pain signals connecting one’s body and brain. Some notable examples of opioids are heroin, morphine, fentanyl, codeine, and oxycodone.

How The Opioid Epidemic Unfolds

The opioid-related death and overdose cases, which occurred within more than 20 years, can be classified into three different waves:

• First wave – happened in the 1990s, caused by certain prescription opioids, which eventually spreads throughout the said decade.
• Second wave – started in 2010, and then increased rapidly in terms of death count since. This is mainly caused by heroin overdose.
• Third wave – this wave started around 2013 and is caused primarily by the consumption of synthetic opioids.
  
  

The First Wave: Opioid Prescription Gone Wrong

The first wave of the dreaded opioid epidemic started way back in 1991 when there was an unexpected and rapid rise in the number of deaths caused by opioid use. This was traced to the widespread sale and use of various prescription opioids, as well as the use of medications infused with opioids to treat pains.

How did prescription opioids come to rise, you may ask? This was mainly caused by the pharmaceutical companies behind the said medicines at the time. These medication companies then assured healthcare professionals that their opioid drugs have a low chance of causing some addiction to the users, making them safe for prescription.

Other than that, the same pharmaceutical companies also marketed their opioid medicines as effective treatments for non-cancer pains – despite the lack of proven medical evidence that will prove such. From that, opioid medicines have become more accessible for prescription and purchase, which has led to the first cases of opioid overdose and death.

The Second Wave: An Easy Opioid Grab

The second wave of the opioid-related death and overdose epidemic started somewhere in 2010. The main cause has something to do with the widespread use of heroin, which eventually lead to substance abuse in most cases.

Since the opioid epidemic caused by certain prescription drugs, there have been great efforts to get rid of the rampant opioid use and abuse, mainly by reducing the sale and permission to use. Because of that, the limits in getting prescription opioids lead many people to turn to an illegal – albeit cheap and more accessible – opioid popularly known as heroin.

And since it was widely available and affordable, more and more people from all demographics were hooked to use this illegal opioid drug. Also, since you can easily take heroin without complications, it leads to the rapid rise of opioid death and overdose cases – an alarming 286% within only 9 years.

The Third Wave: The Synthetic Killer

Finally, the third wave of the opioid epidemic started as early as 2013, when there had been a recorded increase in death and overdose cases caused by synthetic opioids – most notably fentanyl. In 2016, the biggest rise in the opioid-related death count occurred – with more than 20,000 deaths caused by fentanyl and certain opioid-infused synthetic drugs.

The main cause of the third opioid death wave has something to do with fentanyl opioids that are illicitly manufactured and are made primarily to replace other types of drugs that people consume in place of organic or authentic opioids.

How Opioid Use Can Affect Your Body

Once taken in any form, opioids can cause certain feelings and condones in your body and mind. These can include, but are not limited to euphoria, constipation, drowsiness, vomiting, nausea, and breathing issues. And when you started to use opioids regularly, you might develop some dependence on it, heighten your drug effects tolerance, and worse – develop drug use disorders and cause overdose.

Getting Rid Of Opioid Dangers Nowadays

A new wave of the opioid epidemic might not be far from possible, sadly – but that doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything to get rid of opioid addiction. Such treatment can vary depending on one’s specific recovery needs, as well as the length of treatment time required. But once you got the most appropriate medications and underwent the most effective recovery program, you will surely find yourself opioid addiction-free!