9781422279656

A Growing Crisis

11

Drugs alter the way people think, feel, and behave by disrupting communication between nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. Neurons are separated by small spaces called synapses. Messages are passed from cell to cell across the synapse by specialized molecules, called neurotransmitters, which bind to receptors on the nerve cells. Prescription opioids and heroin produce effects that are similar to—but stronger than—those produced by the neu- rotransmitters endorphin and enkephalin: reduced pain, decreased alertness, and slowed respiration.

may think they are buying heroin when they are actually receiving pure fentanyl. If a person who is used to shooting up a certain quantity of heroin takes the same-size dose of fen- tanyl, death from overdose is nearly certain. Another side effect of opioids like heroin and fentanyl is that people who use these drugs regularly develop a physical