Opioids are a class of drug or medications used to relieve pain. We have opioid receptors in our bodies.  Opioid drugs and medications work to reduce the pain signals that we’re receiving, to make the pain we have from an injury or surgery less intense. However, opioids can also work in our brains to create a pleasurable effect that can encourage some people to continue using them after they are no longer needed medically. 

The longer opioids are used, and with larger quantities, they slowly start to change the chemistry of the brain. Soon, the brain needs the opioid drug or medication to maintain that feeling. When a person stops taking opioids after a long period of time, they experience the opposite of pain relief in the form of withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal can include severe pain, vomiting and sweating. The body physically reacts to the lack of opioids in a strong way. 

This cycle between the brain needing opioids and the body responding painfully when that need is not met, can make opioids incredibly addictive.

Washington State agencies are working together to address opioids in our communities with holistic prevention and treatment programs. As a result of this work, we are growing the understanding of the risk and impact opioids in our state:

•  In Washington State, approximately 700 people die each year from an opioid overdose. (Washington State Department of Health Opioid Dashboard)
•  For every overdose death in Washington, there were 4.5 hospitalizations and 11 ER visits related to overdose. (Washington State Department of Health State Health Assessment 2018)
•  64% of all drug overdose deaths in Washington involve an opioid. (Washington State Department of Health State Health Assessment 2018)
•  The highest rates of overdose death in Washington occur among men 45-54 years old. (Washington State Department of Health State Health Assessment 2018) 
•  Young adults 18-25 years old have the highest use with 9% reporting they have used pain relievers non-medically. (Washington State Department of Health State Health Assessment 2018)
•  In 2018, about 2,500 Washington State 12th graders had tried heroin at least once in their lifetime and even more (about 3,500) use pain killers to get high in any given month. (Washington Healthy Youth Survey)
•  Young people are often first exposed to opioids through prescriptions. Dentist prescriptions alone account for 31 percent of adolescents’ first exposure to opioids. (US Department of Health and Human Services)

We can prevent the impact of opioids in our community. Having an honest conversation and safely storing and disposing of medication are lifesaving steps. 

Did you know:

•  That kids are 50 percent less likely to use drugs when parents tell them about the risks. (SAMHSA)
•  Young people who have a strong bond with their parent and whose parents express disapproval of substance use have a lower risk of misuse. (SAMHSA)
•  We can help grow good behavior. Most teens in Washington report their parents feel it is very wrong to use prescription drugs not prescribed to them.  Over 80% of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders say their parents think it is very wrong, while 5 percent say their parents think it is not wrong or just a little wrong. (Washington Healthy Youth Survey)
•  Though about two-thirds of teens (8th, 10th, and 12th graders) perceive prescription drug misuse to carry great risk of harm, only 1 in 10 believes it to have little to no risk. We can talk to those 1 in 10. (Washington Healthy Youth Survey)
•  Of people entering treatment for heroin addiction who began abusing opioids in the 1960s, more than 80 percent started with heroin. Of those who began abusing opioids in the 2000s, 75 percent reported that their first opioid was a prescription drug. Learning to manage prescriptions early, and storing and disposing of them properly, can prevent future drug use. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

We all have a role to play in making our communities healthier and safer. To learn more about the science of prevention, and those working in prevention across Washington State visit www.theathenaforum.org