How prescription painkiller deaths occur
Prescription painkillers work by binding to receptors in
the brain to decrease the perception of pain. these
powerful drugs can create a feeling of euphoria,
cause physical dependence, and, in some people,
lead to addiction. Prescription painkillers also cause
sedation and slow down a person’s breathing.
a person who is abusing prescription painkillers might
take larger doses to achieve a euphoric effect and
reduce withdrawal symptoms. these larger doses
can cause breathing to slow down so much that
breathing stops, resulting in a fatal overdose.