According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and many others.”When a person becomes addicted to opioids, their brain experiences a rush of dopamine. These reward pathways, over time, come to...[ read more ]