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Most of the time pain is your body’s way of protecting you — reminding you to take your hand off a hot stove or rest a sprained ankle. Pain is critical to survival. It sets limits and teaches us to avoid repeated dangerous mistakes. But sometimes, the pain protection system… -
“People become desperate and they become despondent. They’ll do anything to support their drug habits. It’s disheartening.” — Patrick D. McGowan, Minneapolis Police Department (Ret.), Minnesota State Senator (Ret.) and Hennepin County Sheriff (Ret.) Too many people in the U.S. find themselves in this state of desperation because of opioid… -
You probably know someone who seems to have a high pain tolerance — brushing off injuries like they’re nothing. You might also know people who get teary after they stub their toe. That’s because everyone experiences pain differently. Unfortunately, there’s no definitive lab test or x-ray-like machine that can measure… -
Fentanyl is a powerful painkiller. According to the Centers for Disease Control, it’s up to 100 times more potent than morphine. Its strong potency means it can be used in operating rooms, to control pain after surgery and to alleviate pain for people with advanced cancer. -
How exactly did we manage to end up with the opioid epidemic, and how do we dig ourselves out? Dr. Holly L. Geyer, Addiction Medicine Specialist at Mayo Clinic, sits down with us to discuss the opioid epidemic: how we got here, how we approached solutions in the past, and… -
You’ve likely heard the term “opioids” before, as well as all the negative connotations that come with it. But what exactly ARE opioids, and is there a safe way to use them? Dr. Holly L. Geyer, Addiction Medicine Specialist at Mayo Clinic, sits down with us to explain how opioids… -
Morphineis one of the world’s most ubiquitous and useful pain relievers. It’s a natural medicine derived from the opium poppy plant. Since its discovery, it has been the key element in the family of opioid drugs — including cough syrup, codeine, fentanyl (Actiq, Fentora, Sublimaze), heroin,… -
Whenever your health care provider prescribes a medicine, it’s important to learn about the drug you’ll be taking. In this short guide, we’ll discuss different types of opioids. For more information about opioids, read the Mayo Clinic Press Book “Ending the Crisis: Mayo Clinic’s Guide to Opioid Addiction and Safe… -
Book Excerpt | OpioidsNavigating insurance coverage for treatment of opioid use disorder
Health care insurance isn’t always easy to figure out. The language may not be clear, and you may feel a bit lost in conversations regarding your coverage. Despite these challenges, it’s important to thoroughly understand whether the cost of treatment will be covered by your insurance to avoid financial hardship… -
Book Excerpt | OpioidsWhat exactly are opioids?
Opioids are a powerful class of medications meant to be used for a short time after an injury or surgery to manage acute pain and enable activity. Drugs that fall into this class include morphine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, fentanyl and the illegal drug heroin. The term “opioid” is often used… -
Opioids are a class of prescription medication meant to manage pain and improve a person’s activity level. They’re usually meant to be taken for a short time while a person recovers from an injury or surgery. Opioids also are highly addictive. A person with a one-day prescription has a 6%… -
Opioid addiction can have heartbreaking consequences. Friends and family members who are desperately trying to get their loved one help have a front-row seat to the devastation. Opioids are a class of drugs used to relieve pain. They may be prescribed to treat some forms of chronic pain or pain…
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