Opioids, such as heroin and morphine, are medications that relieve pain. They reduce the force that pain signals travel to the brain, and thus reduces the perception of pain and gives a calm euphoric feeling. When the drug enters the brain, it binds to molecules known as opioid receptors, which are located in the brain and the brain stem; the brain stem controls automatic functions such as respiration, arousal, and blood pressure. Opioids are frequently prescribed by doctors to provide people relief from pain; however, opioids can produce a high causing people to abuse the drug. Heroin and opioid overdoses slow down the central nervous system to a fatal degree; this includes symptoms such as shortness of breath, inability to talk when conscious,
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People may start taking a prescription drug for pain and soon get hooked on the drug and the euphoric sensation. When people are no longer able to receive their prescription drug, they look to other resources. Many Cape Codders have resorted to driving to different states in order to obtain their desired drugs. In fact, “the Florida pain-management clinics, known as pill mills, attract people from all over the East Coast, including Cape Cod. In fact, the police say Florida is probably the number one source of illegally sold pills on the streets of the Cape” (Myers, 2010). Although in Florida, “practically anyone can buy painkillers from the clinics in Florida, because the drugs are legal if prescribed by a doctor,” it is more difficult to obtain prescription opioids in Massachusetts (Myers, 2010). Massachusetts has created a prescription limit on first-time prescriptions for opioid drugs to a seven-day supply” (Schoenberg, 2016). For those who are unable to obtain prescriptions, resort to heroin use or other synthetic opioids. Falmouth police have stated that they “have informants that say it (heroin) is the easiest drug to find” (Houghton, 2014). Once people get hooked on the drug they can go from using it once a week to multiple times a day. These people reach a certain tolerance, meaning they need more of the drug to feel a high. Once someone stops using the drug, they experience …show more content…
Although prescription opioids are considered legal, this does not mean they are safe. “Both are narcotics containing the active ingredient oxycodone” (“Prescription Opioid Narcotics and Heroin,” 2016). Because prescription opioid use typically leads to heroin or synthetic opioid addictions, there needs to be a better limit to prescription opioids in the towns of Cape
People may start taking a prescription drug for pain and soon get hooked on the drug and the euphoric sensation. When people are no longer able to receive their prescription drug, they look to other resources. Many Cape Codders have resorted to driving to different states in order to obtain their desired drugs. In fact, “the Florida pain-management clinics, known as pill mills, attract people from all over the East Coast, including Cape Cod. In fact, the police say Florida is probably the number one source of illegally sold pills on the streets of the Cape” (Myers, 2010). Although in Florida, “practically anyone can buy painkillers from the clinics in Florida, because the drugs are legal if prescribed by a doctor,” it is more difficult to obtain prescription opioids in Massachusetts (Myers, 2010). Massachusetts has created a prescription limit on first-time prescriptions for opioid drugs to a seven-day supply” (Schoenberg, 2016). For those who are unable to obtain prescriptions, resort to heroin use or other synthetic opioids. Falmouth police have stated that they “have informants that say it (heroin) is the easiest drug to find” (Houghton, 2014). Once people get hooked on the drug they can go from using it once a week to multiple times a day. These people reach a certain tolerance, meaning they need more of the drug to feel a high. Once someone stops using the drug, they experience …show more content…
Although prescription opioids are considered legal, this does not mean they are safe. “Both are narcotics containing the active ingredient oxycodone” (“Prescription Opioid Narcotics and Heroin,” 2016). Because prescription opioid use typically leads to heroin or synthetic opioid addictions, there needs to be a better limit to prescription opioids in the towns of Cape