What is the risk associated with opioid overdose?

The risk associated with opioid overdose primarily revolves around respiratory failure. Opioids act on the central nervous system to relieve pain, but they can also depress respiratory function. In the event of an overdose, the brain's ability to regulate breathing diminishes significantly, leading to slow or shallow breathing and potentially stopping respiratory effort entirely. This lack of adequate ventilation can result in harmful consequences, including hypoxia and ultimately death if not promptly treated.

In contrast, increased heart rate is not typically associated with opioid overdose; rather, opioids can lead to a decrease in heart rate in some cases. Nausea and vomiting may occur as side effects of opioid use but are not the direct consequence of an overdose. Increased energy levels also contradict the effects of opioids, which are generally sedative in nature, not stimulative. Therefore, understanding the risks involved in opioid use is crucial, particularly in recognizing how respiratory failure is a critical and life-threatening outcome of an overdose scenario.