Opiates and opioids are most often prescribed to treat chronic pain. They are a class of depressants, meaning the drugs slow down breathing and heart rate. The most significant risk of an overdose is lack of oxygen to the brain, which is vital for brain function. When oxygen supply is inadequate, the brain becomes hypoxic, leading to severe and quick damage.
Similarly, when there is no oxygen supply to the brain, it leads to anoxic injury. In an opiate overdose, the victim usually becomes unconscious and the central nervous system depressed. The body fails to breathe and deliver oxygen to the brain, leading to severe brain damage and even death.
Sadly, people of all ages are at risk of being affected by the opioid epidemic. From teens stealing pills from their parents to adults becoming addicted to their prescriptions, dependence does not discriminate against any age group or demographic.