Opioids are drugs that block pain and slow down your breathing and heart rate. While they are often prescribed to treat pain, some opioids can be deadly even in small doses.

Created in partnership with Change the Outcome

The facts about opioids

  • Opioids are highly addictive.

    They flood your brain with “feel good” chemicals like dopamine at much greater amounts than your brain can naturally produce on its own. This can trick the brain into craving more and becoming dependent on opioids for dopamine, making it harder to feel happy or motivated without them. Over time, your brain starts to prioritize the drug over everything else — even food, sleep, and friends.

  • Some opioids are stronger than others.

    Common opioids include Percocet, Oxy, Vicodin, fentanyl, heroin, and morphine. Fentanyl is a super strong opioid — up to 100 times stronger than morphine. It's often mixed into other drugs without people knowing. Even a tiny amount can cause an overdose or death.

  • One fake pill can kill you.

    Pressed pills are fake drugs often manufactured in illegal labs both here in the United States and around the world. They are made to look like real medicines like Percocet, Adderall, or Xanax and often contain fentanyl. However, you can’t tell what’s inside by looking. If it didn’t come from a pharmacy or doctor, don’t trust it.

  • Opioid use disorder is treatable and preventable.

    People with opioid use disorder aren’t bad. They have a disease that affects the brain and makes it hard to control drug use, which impacts the body, mind, and relationships. Knowing the signs of substance use disorder (SUD) can help. If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid use disorder, there are resources available to help. 

  • You can reverse an opioid overdose and save a life.

    Knowing signs of an opioid overdose, such as shallow or stopped breathing and blue or gray lips and fingertips, can save a life. Steve’s Law protects individuals who call 911, stay at the scene, and/or administer Narcan to anyone experiencing an overdose. Learn more about signs to look for and how to respond.

Why It Matters

Learning about opioids helps you stay safe, make smart choices, and look out for friends. Opioid abuse, addiction, or overdose can happen to anyone — knowing the facts can save lives.

  • Brain Impact

    Opioids can be especially harmful for teen brains, which are still developing. Use during adolescence can harm areas responsible for emotions, memory, and decision making.

    • Opioids can hijack your brain and rewire your reward system so your brain prioritizes the drug over everything else.

    • Decision-making and impulse control can get weaker, making risky choices more likely.

    • Memory and focus can suffer, making school or everyday tasks harder.

    • Tolerance builds up over time, meaning you need more of the drug to feel the same effect. The brain becomes addicted to the drug and struggles to function without it, which makes quitting extremely difficult.

  • Physical Health Impact

    Opioids are intended to block pain and slow down your breathing and heart rate. Other shorter-term effects include drowsiness, nausea, constipation, and slowed breathing.

    Addiction is common with continued use and stopping can be extremely tough. Withdrawal can start within hours and last for days or even weeks, and it's one of the reasons opioid use can be so hard to stop without help. Symptoms of withdrawal can include:

    • Vomiting and nausea that can hit hard.

    • Sweating and chills, even when you're not sick.

    • Shaking and tremors that make it hard to relax.

    • Trouble sleeping or staying asleep.

    • Aching muscles and body pain.

    • Restless legs that won't stay still.

    • Itchy skin with no clear cause.

  • Mental Health Impact

    Opioids might seem like a quick fix for things like anxiety, stress, or trouble sleeping — but they don't solve the real problem. In fact, using opioids to cope can actually create a cycle where your mental health keeps getting worse.

    • Your brain chemistry changes, which can lead to mood swings, low motivation, or feeling disconnected.

    • Opioid use can numb emotions, making it harder to deal with problems in healthy ways. This increases the risk of addiction, especially when using opioids to escape emotional pain.

    • Isolation and shame often come with opioid use, which can deepen mental health struggles and make it harder to reach out for help.

  • Social Impact

    Opioid use doesn't just affect your body — it can take a serious toll on your emotions and relationships, too.

    • Opioids impair memory and attention. This makes keeping up with academics, performing well at work, and tending to relationships difficult.

    • Lying about or hiding use can damage trust with friends and family, ruining relationships.

    • Mood swings and irritability can make it harder to connect with others. This may lead to pulling away from others altogether, increasing loneliness and isolation.

  • Financial Impact

    • Opioids are expensive, whether purchased from a pharmacy or a secondary source. Costs pile up over time, which can take away from other positive investments and opportunities.

    • Many opioid users suffering from addiction may engage in risky behaviors, such as stealing or gambling, to pay for their drug of choice.

    • Individuals may face legal fees, criminal charges and penalties if found in possession of pressed pills and other opioids made and sold by illegal labs.

  • Environmental Impact

    Manufacturing, consuming, and improperly disposing of opioids can harm the environment.

    • Opioids that are flushed down a toilet or other drain can contaminate water sources. This harms aquatic organisms and pollutes groundwater humans rely on for drinking and agriculture. Learn about safe disposal.

    • Some opioid users rely on syringes or needles to inject the drug into their system. If not disposed of properly, these can cause injury and may even transmit infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis to individuals who come in contact with them. Learn about safe sharp disposal.

  • Extracurriculars & Athletics Impact

    Opioid misuse can seriously impact your sports, hobbies, and activities you care about.

    • Opioids can numb pain, and mask signals your body needs rest. This increases risk of injury, mental and physical exhaustion, and burnout.

    • Slower reaction times, impaired focus, and decreased coordination can make learning new skills difficult and hurt your overall performance.

    • Withdrawal symptoms can make it hard to participate or stay consistent. This can lead to missed practices, performances, or events, and ultimately falling behind or losing your spot.

Opioid use can profoundly affect teens' physical, mental, and social well-being. As a caregiver, staying informed, fostering open communication, and creating a supportive environment are key to helping your teen make healthier choices. Visit the Confident Caregiver Page for tools and resources to talk with your teen about opioids and other substances.

This project is possible, fully or in part, as a result of grant funding recommended by the Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council (OERAC) and the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official policies the Minnesota Department of Human services; nor mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the state of Minnesota.