Opioid usage is on the rise, presenting a growing trend in San Bernardino County. The Ontario Fire Department is working with San Bernardino County Fire Chiefs and San Bernardino County Public Health to prevent fentanyl and opioid related death and injury.
What are Opioids?
Opioids are a class of drugs that include both legal prescription medications and illicit substances. They are commonly used for their analgesic (pain-relieving) properties, but they also have the potential for misuse, dependence, and addiction. These drugs interact with the opioid receptor sites in the body and brain.
There are two distinct categories for opioids:
1. Prescription Opioids:
- Many opioids are prescribed by healthcare professionals to manage moderate to severe pain. Examples include oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and codeine.
- Prescription opioids are often used after surgeries, injuries, or for the treatment of chronic pain conditions.
2. Illicit Opioids:
- Some opioids are produced illegally and sold on the black market. Heroin, for example, is an illicit opioid that is not prescribed by healthcare professionals.
- Illicitly manufactured synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, have become a significant concern due to their high potency and involvement in overdose deaths.
- Illicit Fentanyl is often mixed in other drugs and sometimes hidden within counterfeit prescription medications. These pills are not sold by pharmacies or prescribed by a doctor.
ACCORDION
What are some of the signs of an Opioid overdose?
- Unconsciousness
- Slow or shallow breathing
- Vomiting
- Pale skin
- Very small pupils
- Inability to speak
- Faint heartbeat
- Limp arms and Legs
- Purple lips and fingernails
Programs Available in Ontario, now:
Ontario Fire Department EMS team is available to schedule workshops and classes for Ontario residences, businesses, and classrooms. Please feel free to contact us directly at dloomis@ontarioca.gov
Additional Support Resources
