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Did You Know That a Simple Painkiller Could Be Responsible for Thousands of Deaths Annually? It’s Shocking, But That’s the Reality of Opioids, Medications That, Despite Being Effective Against Pain, Can Cause Dependency and Even Lead to Death.
The history of opioids dates back thousands of years, starting with the poppy, a plant that has a special sap.
According to the channel Hello, Science, the sap of the poppy, known as opium, has a peculiar combination of properties: anesthesia, relaxation, and euphoria. Initially used to treat various health issues, the substance eventually became a drug of abuse due to its psychoactive effects.
In 1805, the German scientist Friedrich Sertürner managed to extract from opium a substance that effectively combats pain, called morphine.
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According to the mentioned channel, morphine is still one of the most potent substances available for severe pain. Over time, other natural painkillers were discovered, such as codeine, and scientists began isolating these substances, avoiding the direct use of poppy sap.
Opioids: Saviors and Villains
Natural opioids served as the basis for many other painkillers. These medications are effective against moderate to severe pain, especially after surgeries or in cases of advanced cancer.
According to Hello, Science, they fit perfectly to receptors in the body, blocking pain signals more efficiently than common painkillers like acetaminophen.
However, opioids are not only beneficial. They also act on the brain, blocking the ability to control signals of pleasure and well-being, which can lead to excessive dopamine release, known as the “pleasure hormone.”
This creates a feeling of euphoria, which, during continued use, can lead to dependence. As mentioned by Hello, Science, as a person continues to take the medication, the body reduces the number of available receptors, requiring larger doses to achieve the same effect.
The Opioid Epidemic
Chemical dependency drives many people to seek larger doses of opioids, leading to about 68,000 overdose deaths in the United States in 2020.
According to Hello, Science, the situation could worsen in Brazil, where the number of opioid prescriptions increased from 1.6 million in 2009 to 9 million in 2015. The main opioids sold in Brazil include codeine derivatives, such as Codex and Tylex, and fentanyl derivatives, like Durogesic and Fentanest.
In the United States, fentanyl, an opioid up to 100 times more potent than morphine, is one of the primary contributors to the overdose crisis.
Fentanyl has dominated the illegal market, allowing people dependent on opioids and even those without a medical prescription to easily obtain the substance. In Brazil, strict regulation attempts to prevent a similar scenario, but the risk still exists.
Common Opioid Medications in Brazil
Below is a table with examples of commonly used medications in Brazil that contain opioid substances:
| Substance | Commercial Medication | Indication |
|---|---|---|
| Codeine | Codex, Tylex | Moderate to severe pain |
| Fentanyl | Durogesic, Fentanest | Severe pain, such as in cancer cases |
| Oxycodone | OxyContin | Moderate to severe pain |
| Morphine | Dimorf | Intense and chronic pain |
| Tramadol | Tramal | Moderate to severe pain |
The Importance of Awareness in the Use of Pain Medications
Despite the risks, opioids are essential for treating severe or chronic pain when used correctly. Following medical recommendations closely is crucial to avoid dependence and overdose.
According to Hello, Science, it is important that people are aware of the dangers and never share medical prescriptions.
In this regard, it’s noted that opioids have a complex history, being both saviors for many and villains for others.
In other words, awareness and regulation are essential to prevent the situation in the United States from repeating itself in Brazil.
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