Wisconsin’s opioid epidemic has been raging for over 20 years. It first began when doctors started to overprescribe pain relievers. When these drugs became hard to obtain, heroin use skyrocketed. Today, illegally manufactured fentanyl is mixed with heroin, opioids, and other illegal drugs. This is the reason opioid deaths continue at all-time highs in Wisconsin.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are a drug that alleviates body pain and can produce a pleasurable effect on the brain. People can use them in correct, beneficial, and illegal ways. Opioids may be prescribed by a healthcare professional as a pain treatment following surgery, for painful emotions, or trauma. The types of opioids are:
- Prescription pain relievers: Prescription opioids include oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and methadone. These medications serve as pain relievers by changing how your body feels and responds to pain.
- Fentanyl: A powerful opioid.
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- Pharmaceutical: This is prescribed by healthcare professionals to treat severe pain. It can come in a lozenge, pill, nasal/sublingual spray, transdermal patch, or injection.
- Illegal: This type of fentanyl is sold solely for its ability to produce a good feeling. It is often mixed into other drugs to make it look like prescription medicine.
- Heroin: This is an illegal opioid. It is most commonly used for a short-term rush of pleasurable feelings. There is no medical use for this drug. It is strictly prohibited.
If you or a loved one faces charges such as possession of illegally obtained prescription drugs or heroin possession, the consequences can be severe. It is crucial to work with an experienced local attorney who can provide you with the aggressive defense you need during a difficult time.
