I've heard they are the same thing. Is this true? If not, what is the difference?
Substance Abuse - What is the difference between Opiate and Opioid?
Question posted by christineATU on 28 March 2010
Last updated on 28 March 2010
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Answers
mpvt
28 March 2010
Opiates are derived directly from the opium poppy by departing and purifying the various chemicals in the poppy. Opioids include all opiates but also include chemicals that have been synthesized in some way.
So heroin is an opioid but not an opiate. Morphine is an opiate and also an opioid.
It has become standard just to use opiate as it saves time... Hope this helped...
christineATU
28 March 2010
So if Fentynl (sp?) is totally synthetic, it's a true opioid? Which its' main function is to kill pain, lift mood, and motivate. If that's what opiates do, why did chemists mess with a good thing? Meaning enhancing a more naturally derived pain killer. Obviously both are addictive. But the synthetic meds seem more dangerous and easier to overdose. Would you agree on that?
mpvt
28 March 2010
It is very difficult to grasp. I don't fully understand it myself. I can tell you that fentanyl was never meant to be prescribe to patients. It was designed for use during surgeries. A very dangerous drug for the mind when used chronically...
christineATU
28 March 2010
Wasn't sure if you got my follow up comment...
mpvt
28 March 2010
yes, fentanyl is a opioid but it was never meant to enhance moods, just kill surgical pain. A bad drug outside of hospital use...
christineATU
28 March 2010
It may have not been meant to enhance mood but it's an obvious "side affect." Same as Demerol and Dolophine. If people started calling methodone its' clinical name, the stigma of "recovering addict" may not be associated to that person.
mpvt
28 March 2010
they only enhanced my mood for a short time and then my tolerance was to high and they didn't do anything but make me dysphoric and very nasty..
christineATU
28 March 2010
Well, we certainly don't want a "nasty" alien coming down off of fentynal!
mpvt
28 March 2010
lol. i never found fentanyl that good really. it has a very short half life. Methadone has been the best painkiller for me and i've abused them all unfortunately...
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