Opioids can be prescription medications often referred to as “painkillers”, like Oxycodone, Fentanyl or Vicodin, or they can be street drugs, such as heroin.
Symptoms of opioid use disorder include taking more opioids than you had planned to or taking more than your doctor has prescribed, having difficulty cutting back on opioids even though you want to, craving opioids, needing more of the medication to get the same effect or having withdrawal symptoms if you don’t take them.
Opioids can affect your health, including increasing risk of overdose and depression and can also affect the health of your baby.
Opioids can have dangerous withdrawal symptoms if stopped suddenly. Talk with your provider before stopping opioids.
Talk with your doctor if you think you have a problem with opioids or visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s treatment locator to find a provider near you who can help.
