Opioids and opiates have caused millions of people looking for pain relief to enter a cycle of addiction. The scary part is many of the people dying from opioids aren't recreational drug users looking for the next high. There are people who were at one point prescribed these drugs by their doctors to treat chronic pain.

So, what is the differences between opioids and opiates? Opiates describes natural drugs made from the flowering opium poppy plant. Morphine, heroin and codeine are examples of opiates. These drugs have definitely been linked to physical dependance, increased tolerance and addiction.

The term opioids includes all natural and synthetic drugs. Synthetic meaning made in a lab. When an opioid receptor in the brain becomes activated, it produces feelings of pleasure and not pain. All opioid drugs act on these receptors. Some of the synthetic drugs are up to 50 times more powerful than Heroin.

Synthetic opioid drugs used to treat pain include oxycodone and hydrocodone. These drugs are highly addictive and dangerous. Oxycodone exhibits the highest risk of abuse. It affects the central nervous system in a very similar way to Heroin.

Here are a couple of key facts to take away.

Opioids can have a negative impact on your emotions, digestion, movement and breathing. Fentanyl, a synthetic pain-relieving opioid, is 100 times more potent than Morphine, and opioids are highly addictive and not really meant to treat chronic pain.

Current medical guidelines no longer recommend the use of opioids for spinal pain. If you are struggling with pain, movement-based care such as chiropractic, is often the best way to accelerate the healing process and put yourself in a position for long term relief. Call us today if you want to explore relief options that do not include medications.