
Opioid - Wikipedia
Opioids are a class of drugs that derive from, or mimic, natural substances found in the opium poppy plant. Opioids work on opioid receptors in the brain and other organs to produce a …
Opioids (Narcotics): What They Are, Types & Side Effects
Opioids are a class of drugs that manage moderate to severe pain. There are prescription and nonprescription versions available. They have high addiction potential and could lead to opioid …
Opioids - National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Jun 17, 2025 · Learn about the health effects of opioid use. Opioids are a class of natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic drugs. These include both prescription medications used to treat pain …
Opioids - Johns Hopkins Medicine
Opioids work in the brain to produce a variety of effects, including pain relief. Opioid drugs include prescription pain medicine and illegal drugs. Some people use opioids because of the …
What are opioids and why are they dangerous? - Mayo Clinic
Aug 26, 2023 · Opioids are a broad group of pain-relieving medicines that work with your brain cells. Opioids can be made from the poppy plant — for example, morphine (Duramorph, MS …
About Prescription Opioids | Overdose Prevention | CDC
Jun 10, 2025 · Prescription opioids (opioid therapy) can be used to treat acute-to-chronic pain and are often prescribed following surgery or injury, or for health conditions such as cancer.
Opioid overdose - World Health Organization (WHO)
Aug 29, 2025 · Opioids are commonly used for the treatment of pain, and include medicines such as morphine, fentanyl and tramadol. Their non-medical use, prolonged use, misuse and use …
Opioids - Special Subjects - MSD Manual Consumer Version
Opioids, a class of drugs derived from the opium poppy (including synthetic variations), are pain relievers with a high potential for misuse. Opioids are used to relieve pain, but they also cause …
Opioid | Description, Examples, Classification, History, & Effects ...
Nov 20, 2025 · opioid, class of drugs derived from substances that occur naturally in the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) and that are widely used for pain relief and sedation.
Could Next-Generation Medicines Help Solve the Opioid Crisis?
Dec 30, 2025 · New medications are in the pipeline that could help people win their battles against addictive substances, including opioids