What is an Opioid?

An Opioid is a chemical substance that has a morphine like action in the body. Opioid's can be classified as natrual, semi-synthetic, and fully-synthetic.

Natural opioid's include morphine, codeine, thebaine, and oripavine. Semi-sythetic opioids include hydromorphone, hydrocodone, oxycodone, and heroin. Fully-synthetic opioids include fentanyl, pethidine, methadone, and propoxyphene.

Opioid's bind to specific opioid receptors in the central nervous system and in other tissues.