Charts of deaths involving specific opioids and classes of opioids

History
Opiate misuse has been recorded at least since 300 BC. Greek mythology describes Nepenthe (Greek “free from sorrow”) and how it was used by the hero of the Odyssey. Opioids have been used in the Near East for centuries. The purification of and isolation of opiates occurred in the early 19th century.Levacetylmethadol was previously used to treat opioid dependence. In 2003 the drugs manufacturer discontinued production. There are no available generic versions. LAAM produced long-lasting effects, which allowed the person receiving treatment to visit a clinic only three times per week, as opposed to daily as with methadone. In 2001, levacetylmethadol was removed from the European market due to reports of life-threatening ventricular rhythm disorders. In 2003, Roxane Laboratories, Inc. discontinued Orlaam in the US. See also
Benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome
Doctor shopping
Hyperkatifeia, hypersensitivity to emotional distress in the context of opioid abuse
Physical dependence
Post-acute-withdrawal syndrome
Prescription drug abuse

References
External links
Heroin information from the National Institute on Drug Abuse
Opioid information at Opioids.Net
Opioid Dependence Treatment and Guidelines
Opioid Risk Tool (ORT) for Narcotic Abuse
Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is a conduction abnormality in the heart that can be seen on an electrocardiogram (ECG). In this condition, activation of the left ventricle of the heart is delayed, which causes the left ventricle to contract later than the right ventricle. Causes
Among the causes of LBBB are:
Aortic stenosis
Dilated cardiomyopathy
Acute myocardial infarction
Extensive coronary artery disease
Primary disease of the cardiac electrical conduction system
Long standing hypertension leading to aortic root dilatation and subsequent aortic regurgitation
Lyme disease

Mechanisms
Slow or absent conduction through the left bundle branch means that it takes longer than normal for the left ventricle to fully depolarise. This can be due to a damaged bundle branch that is completely unable to conduct, but may represent intact conduction that is slower than normal. LBBB may be fixed, present at all times, but may be intermittent for example occurring only during rapid heart rates. This may be due to the bundle having a longer refractory period than usual. Diagnosis
LBBB is diagnosed on a 12-lead ECG. In adults, it is seen as wide QRS complexes lasting ≥120ms with characteristic QRS shapes in the precordial leads, although narrower complexes are seen in children. In lead V1, the QRS complex is often entirely negative (QS morphology), although a small initial R wave may be seen (rS morphology). In the lateral leads (I, aVL, V5-V6) the QRS complexes are usually predominantly positive with a slow upstroke last >60ms to the R-wave peak. Notching may be seen in these leads but this is not universal.