What is Project C.L.E.A.N.?

Project C.L.E.A.N. (Community Leaders Eliminating the Abuse of Narcotics) is a partnership between local community leaders such as healthcare professionals, law enforcement, school officials and community members to enhance awareness and understanding of opioid use and abuse. This is accomplished through community education seminars that encourage open conversations about the safe use of prescription opioids.

What are Opioids?

Opioids are a class of medications that include prescription drugs such as oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Norco, Vicodin), codeine, morphine (MS Contin, Kadian), fentanyl, methadone, and many others. Opioids also include the illegal drugs such as heroin. Opioids can be pills, patches, liquids, or injectable medications that can have serious side effects. Opioids are used to treat moderate to severe pain that may not respond well to other pain medications.

In moderate doses, an opioid dulls the senses, relieves pain, and induces sleep but in excessive doses can cause stupor, coma, convulsions, and even death. medicines are often prescribed by health care professionals to treat pain. These medicines may be needed while you are in the hospital and also after you go home.

Prescription opioids are chemicals that are similar to your own endorphins (an endorphin is the morphine-like chemical produced by your body that helps diminish pain and creates positive feelings; the body's natural painkillers). They change the way the brain handles pain signals. Opioid medications act on opioid receptors in the spinal cord, gastrointestinal tract, and brain to reduce the intensity of pain perception. Opioids also affect brain areas that control emotion, which can further diminish the effects of painful stimuli.

Patients, family members and other caregivers can play an important role in the safe use of these medicines by becoming better informed. The information in the brochure below will review some important safety information about narcotics.

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