Overview
Opioid drugs are classified as central nervous system depressants. Some opioids (e.g., opium, morphine, codeine) are natural substances that come from the seedpod of the Asian poppy, Papaver somniferum; others are semi-synthetic (e.g., Dilaudid®, heroin, Percodan®, OxyContin®) or fully synthetic preparations (e.g., Demerol®, methadone) that are produced in laboratories.
Illicit opioids such as heroin (diacetylmorphine or diamorphine, also known by the street names H, horse, junk or smack) are popular drugs of abuse. Heroin is a fine white or brown powder that can be sniffed, smoked (‘chasing the dragon’), taken orally or injected under the skin (‘skin popping’), but is usually injected intravenously (‘mainlining’). In general, opioids are highly addictive.
Selected Readings
Avoiding Abuse, Achieving a Balance: Tackling the Opioid Public Health Crisis [PDF]
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, 2010
Prescription Drug Abuse FAQ [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), June 2007
Internet Provides Prescription Drug Abusers Information on Tampering Methods [PDF]
CESAR Fax, Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR), U.S., Vol. 15, No. 26, July 2006
The NSDUH Report: Nonmedical Users of Pain Relievers: Characteristics of Recent Initiates [PDF]
Office of Applied Studies (OAS), SAMHSA, U.S., 2006
OxyContin® (Oxycodone Hydrochloride) [PDF]
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA), revised January 2006
New Guide Released on Opioid Treatment
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SAMHSA News, U.S., November/December 2005
Report on the Review of Sales Transactions for Oxycodone-Based Products in Atlantic Canada (retail pharmacies only) [PDF]
Health Canada, July 2005
Portrait de la consommation de psychotropes à Montréal [PDF]
ToxQuebec, November 2004
(This document is available in French only)
Do You Know - Opioids
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 2003
La consommation de psychotropes: portrait et tendances au Québec [PDF]
Comité permanent de lutte à la toxicomanie (CPLT), 2003
(This document is available in French only)
The Effectiveness of Treatment for Opiate Dependent Drug Users: An International Systematic Review of the Evidence
Scottish Executive Drug Misuse Research Programme, 2002
The Management of Opioid Withdrawal: An Overview of Research Literature [PDF]
Drug and Alcohol Services Council, South Australia, 2000
Related Resources
Canadian Guideline for Safe and Effective Use of Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain
Deal.org
Do You Know… Heroin, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Not4me Drug Facts
North American Opiate Medication Initiative (NAOMI)
Opioids, Alberta Health Services (AHS)
Oxycontin: Straight Talk, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Straight facts About Drugs and Drug Abuse, Health Canada
Xperiment.ca