Cliff Notes edition: There are different kinds of opioid receptors (sometimes noted as mu, delta, kappa) in the body and spinal cord. When narcotics attach to them they alter the brain, brain stem, limbic system, and spinal cord function causing from pain relief, euphoria, sedation and some respiratory depression to unconsciousness and respiratory failure.
Narcan is an opioid antagonist and competes for these same receptors, knocking them off after circulating in the blood stream, and reversing the opioid effects. It acts almost instantaneously in one brain-body circulation time.
Correction: beta, not delta.
Last edited by George_De_Vries_3rd; 06/16/22.
