Tag Archives: opioid overdose

New Series on Fentanyl Use and Production

With the continued rise of opioid related overdose deaths in the United States and other countries, we have started a new educational series on the dangers of illicit fentanyl use. Fentanyl is a very potent, synthetic type of morphine. Much of the increase in opioid overdose deaths since 2014 can be directly attributed to expanding… Read More »

The Addiction Paradox

The same reward circuits in our brains that we use for survival also leave humans perpetually vulnerable to addiction. Our brains are wired for survival. The human brain is finely tuned to seek out rewards like food, sex, and money, and to avoid painful experiences like being killed by dangerous predators, large and small. Called… Read More »

The Dangers of Percocet and Other Narcotic Painkillers

We note with sadness the death of Prince (Rogers Nelson), an iconic and talented musician. Early news stories point to the probability (now confirmed) that Prince was taking Percocet, a powerful painkiller, for pain related to hip surgery performed in 2010. Percocet contains oxycodone, a very strong narcotic analgesic. It is dangerously easy to overdose… Read More »