18 decreased appetite, and decreased interest in and pleasure from sex. It’s possible that some of these effects may be due to the combined use of MDMA with other drugs, especially marijuana. High doses of MDMA can affect the body’s ability to regulate temperature. This can lead to a spike in body temperature that can occasionally result in liver, kidney, or heart failure, or even death. Prescription Opioids The following information on prescription opiods health risks is from the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s prescription opioids fact sheet. Prescription opioids used for pain relief are generally safe when taken for a short time and as prescribed by a doctor, but they can be misused. Opioids bind to and activate opioid receptors on cells located in many areas of the brain, spinal cord, and other organs in the body, especially those involved in feelings of pain and pleasure. When opioids attach to these receptors, they block pain signals sent from the brain to the body and release large amounts of dopamine throughout the body. This release can strongly reinforce the act of taking the drug, making the user want to repeat the experience. In the short term, opioids can relieve pain and make people feel relaxed and happy. However, opioids can also have harmful effects, including drowsiness, confusion, nausea, constipation, euphoria, and slowed breathing. HEALTH EFFECTS Opioid misuse can cause slowed breathing, which can cause hypoxia, a condition that results when too little oxygen reaches the brain. Hypoxia can have short- and long-term psychological and neurological effects, including coma, permanent brain damage, or death. Researchers are also investigating the long-term effects of opioid addiction on the brain, including whether damage can be reversed. People addicted to an opioid medication who stop using the drug can have severe withdrawal symptoms that begin as early as a few hours after the drug was last taken. These symptoms include muscle and bone pain, sleep problems, diarrhea and vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps, uncontrollable leg movements, and severe cravings. An opioid overdose occurs when a person uses enough of the drug to produce life- threatening symptoms or death. OPIOID OVERDOSE When people overdose on an opioid medication, their breathing often slows or stops. This can decrease the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain, which can result in coma, permanent brain damage, or death. HOW CAN AN OPIOID OVERDOSE BE TREATED? If you suspect someone has overdosed, the most important step to take is to call 911 so they can receive immediate medical attention. Once medical personnel arrive, they will administer naloxone. Naloxone is a medicine that can treat an opioid overdose PREVENTION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS
