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Reminder: opioids are a CLASS of drugs.
It’s an umbrella term that can include a number of drugs with similar psychoactive and physiological effects:
- legal and illegal;
- prescribed or not;
- made in a lab or with plant derivatives;
- oxy, heroin, fentanyl, etc.
It’s an umbrella term that can include a number of drugs with similar psychoactive and physiological effects:
- legal and illegal;
- prescribed or not;
- made in a lab or with plant derivatives;
- oxy, heroin, fentanyl, etc.
-They are not “good” or “bad”
-Can be safe in the right dose (these differ for each opioid; for each person). Higher doses/mixing with other drug classes makes them more risky.
- Regular use can lead to dependence, which is marked by tolerance, withdrawal. Dep =/= addiction
-Can be safe in the right dose (these differ for each opioid; for each person). Higher doses/mixing with other drug classes makes them more risky.
- Regular use can lead to dependence, which is marked by tolerance, withdrawal. Dep =/= addiction
-Many people with opioid addiction also experience dependence; not always vice versa.
- Regardless, people with opioid dependence and those with opioid addiction ALL deserve a legally regulated safe supply of opioids.
- No opioid user is better than another bc of their source.
- Regardless, people with opioid dependence and those with opioid addiction ALL deserve a legally regulated safe supply of opioids.
- No opioid user is better than another bc of their source.
We should take time to educate people about why “opioid” is an umbrella under which all different opioids live. Don’t assume every conversation about opioids is only referring to your “pet” opioid. And when explaining, don’t throw other opioid users under the bus.
-Let’s be be kind.
-Our struggles are shared.
-One of the perils of medical models is that we are ALL at the mercy of physicians and systems who decide whether we are “worthy” patients.
- Blame systems, not fellow patients for your poor care bc they are suffering too.
-Our struggles are shared.
-One of the perils of medical models is that we are ALL at the mercy of physicians and systems who decide whether we are “worthy” patients.
- Blame systems, not fellow patients for your poor care bc they are suffering too.
- People with opioid addiction experience pain- physical, emotional, etc. Many self-medicate this pain with opioids.
- People who are prescribed opioids for pain sometimes use more than prescribed- when depressed, have trouble sleeping, etc.
- The lines are blurry. It’s okay.
- People who are prescribed opioids for pain sometimes use more than prescribed- when depressed, have trouble sleeping, etc.
- The lines are blurry. It’s okay.
- Rarely do people “check one box”
- Drugs are medicines. Medicines are drugs.
- People use drugs for a multitude of reasons. People often use the SAME drug for multiple reasons.
- Drugs are medicines. Medicines are drugs.
- People use drugs for a multitude of reasons. People often use the SAME drug for multiple reasons.
- Let’s question the dominant definitions of “drug” vs “medicine” and why these have become moral terms.
- Let’s question why pharmaceuticals similar substances have different legal statuses and different gatekeeper.
- Let’s indict the drug war & racism for the role they played
- Let’s question why pharmaceuticals similar substances have different legal statuses and different gatekeeper.
- Let’s indict the drug war & racism for the role they played
Ugh autocorrect but I’ll leave that tweet alone 
