Opioid classification

Opiates are derived directly from the poppy plant and include narcotics such as morphine and codeine. Opioids, which are at least partly synthetic, often refer to painkillers such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, but also include heroin.

The drugs interact with nerve cells in the brain to relieve pain and also produce a pleasurable effect. Long-term use of the drugs can change the way a brain’s nerve cells work, thus causing withdrawal when drug usage stops. Many communities are grappling with a rise in the use of more potent opioids, including derivatives of fentanyl that can be up to 100 times more potent than prescription painkillers.