Last week, the opioid epidemic was declared a ‘public health emergency’ in the United
Last week, the opioid epidemic was declared a ‘public health emergency’ in the United

States — something advocates have been pushing for a while.
States — something advocates have been pushing for a while.

Because at this point, experts agree that America is in the middle of an opioid crisis.
Because at this point, experts agree that America is in the middle of an opioid crisis.

According to the CDC, around 90 Americans die from opioid overdoses every day
According to the CDC, around 90 Americans die from opioid overdoses every day

That's about as many as those who die in car crashes.
That's about as many as those who die in car crashes.

There are all kinds of different factors that led to this crisis.
There are all kinds of different factors that led to this crisis.

But the main reasons have a lot to do with what these drugs are, how they reduce pain,
But the main reasons have a lot to do with what these drugs are, how they reduce pain,

and why they’re so addictive.
and why they’re so addictive.

First, some terminology.
First, some terminology.

You hear people throwing around words like opioids and opiates, not to mention heroin,
You hear people throwing around words like opioids and opiates, not to mention heroin,

oxy, and fentanyl.
oxy, and fentanyl.

But those mean different things.
But those mean different things.

Opioids are any drug that acts on opioid receptors on your cells.
Opioids are any drug that acts on opioid receptors on your cells.

Opiates are essentially the same, but they’re made from the poppy plant.
Opiates are essentially the same, but they’re made from the poppy plant.

Yep, the plant that gives us lemon poppy seed muffins also makes opium and morphine.
Yep, the plant that gives us lemon poppy seed muffins also makes opium and morphine.

So opiates are natural, while opioids include both natural and synthetic drugs.
So opiates are natural, while opioids include both natural and synthetic drugs.

For our purposes, what matters is that they all bind to opioid receptors on cells around
For our purposes, what matters is that they all bind to opioid receptors on cells around

your body, like in your brain and spinal cord.
your body, like in your brain and spinal cord.

These receptors come in different shapes, like mu opioid receptors.
These receptors come in different shapes, like mu opioid receptors.

And when opioids bind to receptors, it makes it harder for neurons to send along signals
And when opioids bind to receptors, it makes it harder for neurons to send along signals

that get interpreted as pain.
that get interpreted as pain.

This happens in the spinal cord, where peripheral nerve cells pass on incoming signals.
This happens in the spinal cord, where peripheral nerve cells pass on incoming signals.

And it happens in the brain, where neurons in a region called the periaqueductal gray
And it happens in the brain, where neurons in a region called the periaqueductal gray

prevent cells from releasing neurotransmitters, which are basically chemical messages.
prevent cells from releasing neurotransmitters, which are basically chemical messages.

All this means opioids are really good pain relievers.
All this means opioids are really good pain relievers.

And in the 1990s, because of a combination of factors including misrepresented research,
And in the 1990s, because of a combination of factors including misrepresented research,

doctors started prescribing more painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone to try to treat
doctors started prescribing more painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone to try to treat

pain.
pain.

But opioid receptors are also in reward centers of the brain, and binding to cells there can
But opioid receptors are also in reward centers of the brain, and binding to cells there can

create euphoria, which is that ‘high’ feeling.
create euphoria, which is that ‘high’ feeling.

That’s what makes them addictive.
That’s what makes them addictive.

Plus, your body builds tolerance to them pretty quickly, so you need more of the drug to control
Plus, your body builds tolerance to them pretty quickly, so you need more of the drug to control

the same amount of pain.
the same amount of pain.

You can also become physically dependent, experiencing symptoms of withdrawal if you
You can also become physically dependent, experiencing symptoms of withdrawal if you

stop taking the drug.
stop taking the drug.

Since neurons get used to the opioids, they become more active to compensate for the drug
Since neurons get used to the opioids, they become more active to compensate for the drug

suppressing signals.
suppressing signals.

And if it’s no longer there, the cells become way more active than normal.
And if it’s no longer there, the cells become way more active than normal.

So you can become agitated, anxious, or feel like puking.
So you can become agitated, anxious, or feel like puking.

Addiction, on the other hand, is a psychological condition where you seek out the drug despite
Addiction, on the other hand, is a psychological condition where you seek out the drug despite

the damage it does to your life.
the damage it does to your life.

While physical dependence is common with addiction, a person doesn’t have to be dependent to
While physical dependence is common with addiction, a person doesn’t have to be dependent to

become addicted and vice versa.
become addicted and vice versa.

With the opioid epidemic, it’s thought that many people who originally took the drugs
With the opioid epidemic, it’s thought that many people who originally took the drugs

as prescribed started to take more.
as prescribed started to take more.

In other words, they began abusing them.
In other words, they began abusing them.

And when pills became too expensive or difficult to get, they turned to heroin, an opioid made
And when pills became too expensive or difficult to get, they turned to heroin, an opioid made

from morphine, which was more readily available.
from morphine, which was more readily available.

Regardless of the source, the addiction can turn deadly because of the other physiological
Regardless of the source, the addiction can turn deadly because of the other physiological

effects of opioids.
effects of opioids.

That’s because opioid receptors aren’t just in areas of the brain that control pain;
That’s because opioid receptors aren’t just in areas of the brain that control pain;

they’re also in the parts that control breathing, like the brainstem.
they’re also in the parts that control breathing, like the brainstem.

And when they block signaling there, opioids slow down and can even stop breathing.
And when they block signaling there, opioids slow down and can even stop breathing.

Doctors call this respiratory depression, and it’s usually what kills people who overdose.
Doctors call this respiratory depression, and it’s usually what kills people who overdose.

Fortunately, we now have some ways to counteract overdoses.
Fortunately, we now have some ways to counteract overdoses.

For instance, naloxone can be injected or squirted up someone’s nose and, within minutes,
For instance, naloxone can be injected or squirted up someone’s nose and, within minutes,

seemingly bring people back from the dead.
seemingly bring people back from the dead.

It’s actually an opioid, too, since it binds to opioid receptors.
It’s actually an opioid, too, since it binds to opioid receptors.

But unlike heroin or prescription painkillers, which are agonists, naloxone is an antagonist.
But unlike heroin or prescription painkillers, which are agonists, naloxone is an antagonist.

That means that when it binds to a receptor, it doesn’t turn on any of the usual effects.
That means that when it binds to a receptor, it doesn’t turn on any of the usual effects.

Instead, it acts as a blocker.
Instead, it acts as a blocker.

Naloxone works so well because it binds to opioid receptors more strongly than the overdosed
Naloxone works so well because it binds to opioid receptors more strongly than the overdosed

drug.
drug.

So it can flood your system and prevent the drug from binding.
So it can flood your system and prevent the drug from binding.

Problem is, you need to treat someone with naloxone pretty fast.
Problem is, you need to treat someone with naloxone pretty fast.

It doesn’t always take long after an overdose for them to stop breathing.
It doesn’t always take long after an overdose for them to stop breathing.

And that’s especially true if they’ve taken one of the stronger synthetic opioids,
And that’s especially true if they’ve taken one of the stronger synthetic opioids,

like fentanyl.
like fentanyl.

Fentanyl is a prescription drug that’s around 50-100 times stronger than morphine.
Fentanyl is a prescription drug that’s around 50-100 times stronger than morphine.

Because of its structure, it can cross a protective membrane called the blood-brain barrier more
Because of its structure, it can cross a protective membrane called the blood-brain barrier more

easily, which means your brain can get flooded with the stuff faster.
easily, which means your brain can get flooded with the stuff faster.

Lately, illicit versions of it have been added to heroin and other drugs sold on the street.
Lately, illicit versions of it have been added to heroin and other drugs sold on the street.

And other, fentanyl-like drugs are even more powerful, like carfentanil, which is used
And other, fentanyl-like drugs are even more powerful, like carfentanil, which is used

to tranquilize elephants.
to tranquilize elephants.

Not only do these drugs cause faster overdoses, but they also need more antidotes to counteract
Not only do these drugs cause faster overdoses, but they also need more antidotes to counteract

the effects.
the effects.

So even if the person is given a treatment like naloxone in time, there might not be
So even if the person is given a treatment like naloxone in time, there might not be

enough on hand to save them.
enough on hand to save them.

Deaths from overdoses have spiked in recent years, and as the problem has gotten worse,
Deaths from overdoses have spiked in recent years, and as the problem has gotten worse,

experts have been trying to figure out how to deal with it.
experts have been trying to figure out how to deal with it.

For the most part, doctors are starting to cut back their prescriptions of opioids, which
For the most part, doctors are starting to cut back their prescriptions of opioids, which

should help reduce the number of people who go on to develop addictions.
should help reduce the number of people who go on to develop addictions.

And researchers are working on finding opioids that can knock out pain without all the dangerous
And researchers are working on finding opioids that can knock out pain without all the dangerous

side effects.
side effects.

Some groups, for example, are studying drugs that are closer to the opioid peptides our
Some groups, for example, are studying drugs that are closer to the opioid peptides our

bodies make, which may bind to receptors in more specific ways.
bodies make, which may bind to receptors in more specific ways.

But in the meantime, there are already a lot of people out there with substance abuse disorders,
But in the meantime, there are already a lot of people out there with substance abuse disorders,

and helping them get into treatment is a whole other challenge.
and helping them get into treatment is a whole other challenge.

So, there’s still a lot of work to do.
So, there’s still a lot of work to do.

Thanks for watching this episode of SciShow and thanks especially to our President of
Thanks for watching this episode of SciShow and thanks especially to our President of

Space, SR Foxley!
Space, SR Foxley!

We really appreciate your support.
We really appreciate your support.

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