5.16 Lecture Notes on Dangerous Drugs

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to the class of opiates and their implications in medical and social contexts.

Opiates

Drugs primarily used to reduce pain, which can also induce intense feelings of euphoria when abused.

Endorphins

The body's natural morphine and pain-killing chemicals that help alleviate pain.

Heroin

An opiate previously thought to be a benign treatment, sold over the counter as a cough medication.

Tolerance

A physiological state where increasing doses of a drug are required to achieve the same effect, often seen with opiates.

Naloxone

A drug that acts on endorphin receptors to counteract overdoses by blocking those sites without providing psychoactive effects.

Fentanyl

A highly potent type of opiate that is often laced with other opioids, driving up their addictiveness.

Methadone Treatment

A synthetic opiate used as a treatment to prevent withdrawal symptoms in individuals recovering from heroin or fentanyl addiction.

Placebo Effect

A phenomenon that occurs when a person experiences pain relief due to their expectations of treatment rather than the treatment itself.

Opioid Crisis

A widespread issue involving addiction and overdoses linked to the prescription and illegal use of opiates, including fentanyl.

Class Action Lawsuits

Legal actions taken by municipalities and governments against pharmaceutical companies for marketing opioids irresponsibly.