How Opioids Affect the Brain

Opioids, a class of drug that includes heroin, fentanyl, codeine, morphine, hydrocodone and oxycodone, that act on opioid receptors in the brain to relax the body and relieve pain act on opioid receptors in the brain to relax the body and relieve pain. However, when misused, they have detrimental and fatal effects on the brain and body when misused.