Opioids, sometimes called narcotics, are medications used to treat persistent or severe pain. While opioids are primarily used for pain management, other medical uses include controlling coughs and diarrhea. Examples of opioids include codeine, oxycodone, morphine, hydromorphone and fentanyl.
Check out this fact sheet for more information on opioids.
What happens to your body when you take opioids?
The opioid medications travel through your blood and attach to opioid receptors in your brain cells. Then, the cells release signals that muffle your perception of pain and boost your feelings of pleasure.