About Redwood and Randy Cox, LCDC →
What are opioids?
Opioids are drugs that act on opioid receptors in the brain and body. They include prescription pain medicines, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. They can relieve pain and produce euphoria, but can also cause sedation and dangerously slow breathing. Taking a medicine exactly as prescribed is different from taking someone else’s prescription or using it in a different way. A prescriber can discuss risks and monitoring.
Why fentanyl deserves attention
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid with medical uses. Illegally manufactured fentanyl may be present in counterfeit pills or mixed into other drugs without a person knowing. Appearance alone cannot establish a pill’s ingredients or safety. Overdose can occur even when someone did not intend to take an opioid.
What the statistics tell us
U.S. overdose deaths involved an opioid in 2024, according to final CDC mortality data published in January 2026.
U.S. overdose deaths involved synthetic opioids other than methadone in 2024. This category includes fentanyl and is part of the opioid total.
Drug categories overlap when more than one substance is involved. These figures should not be added together or interpreted as deaths caused by one substance alone.
What can addiction look like?
Concern may involve cravings, unsuccessful attempts to reduce use, using more than planned, or continuing despite harm to relationships, responsibilities, or health.
Physical dependence and opioid use disorder are not identical: tolerance or withdrawal can develop during prescribed treatment, and a clinician must assess the wider pattern. An everyday warning sign might be repeatedly prioritizing obtaining opioids over commitments, even after deciding to change. This is an illustration, not a diagnosis.
Recognizing and responding to possible overdose
Call 911 if a person is unresponsive, cannot be awakened, or has slow or stopped breathing. Give naloxone if available when overdose is suspected, even if you do not know what substance was taken, and follow emergency instructions. Naloxone reverses opioid effects; emergency care is still needed. Stay with the person. More than one dose may be needed; follow the product directions and dispatcher’s instructions.
What getting help can involve
FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder include buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone. A qualified medical professional helps determine the appropriate medication and care plan. Counseling, practical recovery support, and family services can support that plan. Redwood can help with counseling and recovery support; contact a medical provider for medication treatment, withdrawal care, and medical assessment.
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