Opioids are potent drugs administered by doctors to help people with severe pain. The drugs work by blocking pain receptors in the brain and triggering the release of endorphins, the brain’s "feel-good" neurotransmitters. This flood of endorphins boosts feelings of pleasure and calmness.
When the drug wears off, patients may find themselves craving another dose to feel good, or "normal" again. If patients take opioids more often, they build a tolerance to the drug, slowing the production of endorphins. The patient then must take more of the same drug to achieve the same effect.
Because doctors are well aware of the addictive properties of opioids, many are reluctant to increase the dosage. This may lead patients to alternative, illicit sources of opioids
