KARIS ONYINYE ZEKARYAH

Opioids are a class of drugs naturally found in the opium poppy plant, Papaver somniferum. It refers to compounds that are extracted from the poppy seed (e.g morphine) as well as semi synthetic and synthetic compounds with similar properties (e.g fentanyl) (WHO, 2021). The term opioid is used to refer to all compounds that bind to opiate (opioid) receptors. Opioids are alkaloids that are directly derived from the opium poppy plant and the name “Opiate” can be used to describe them. Among these alkaloids are codeine and morphine. Opioids include synthetic opioids like methadone, fentanyl and propoxyphene as well as semi-synthetic opiates, which are medications made from naturally occurring opiates (such as heroin from morphine and oxycodone from thebaine). Narcotic is a legal term used to describe opioids and a few other drugs that are grouped with the opioids by law enforcement hence, it should not be used in the clinical setting (Naidu et al, 2015). Opioids have a number of impacts on the brain including numbing of pain. They work by attaching to opioid receptors on the cells of the brain. These cells send out signals that cause massive amounts of dopamine to be released throughout the body, thereby reducing the experience of pan and increases feelings of pleasure