Opioids are a class of drugs that act on the body's opioid receptors, reducing pain and producing feelings of euphoria. They can be natural (e.g., morphine) or synthetic (e.g., oxycodone).
Related terms
Endorphins: Natural chemicals in the brain that act as the body's natural painkillers and mood enhancers.
Tolerance: The phenomenon where increasing amounts of opioids are needed to achieve the same desired effect due to neural adaptations.
Withdrawal: Unpleasant physical and psychological symptoms that occur when someone stops using opioids after prolonged use.