Heroin is a potent narcotic derived from morphine. The morphine is made from the seed pod of poppy plants. Heroin is an analgesic and is in the class of opioids, and it works in the brain the same way that prescription pain medication does. People…

A recent guest opinion column published in the Johnson City Press May 15th, 2022 by ReVIDA Program Director - Jeremiah Lovelady I invite you to close your eyes for a minute. Think about someone who struggles with substance use disorder.…

Fentanyl is a man-made opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine. It was originally developed for medical use, but has become a go-to for individuals looking to get high due to its low-cost and ubiquitous availability on the street. Because…

Subutex and Suboxone are medications to treat opiate use disorder (OUD). They are both approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Before (2002), when doctors began prescribing them, the standard…

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5), is the universal manual to diagnose mental health issues. Because it is such a well-known standard, it has widespread influence over how disorders get diagnosed…

There are two types of fentanyl, known as synthetic opioids, pharmaceutical grade and illegally manufactured. The illicitly made fentanyl is typically more potent than the pharmaceutical. The pharmaceutical is for people with severe pain,…