What is the main effect of opioid abuse highlighted in the content?

The main effect of opioid abuse that is highlighted is fatal overdoses. Opioids have a high potential for causing severe respiratory depression, which can lead to death when taken in excessive amounts. This danger is exacerbated by the increasing potency of synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, which can greatly enhance the risk of overdose even at small doses. Overdoses are a critical public health concern, and understanding their impact is vital for recognizing the severe consequences of opioid misuse.

While increased tolerance and isolation are significant aspects of opioid abuse, they primarily relate to how the body and the individual respond to the substance over time and socially. Increased tolerance means that a user may need to take higher doses to achieve the same effects, which can contribute to an overdose scenario. Isolation often results from the behavioral changes associated with substance use disorders but does not represent the immediate physical threat that fatal overdoses do. Health enrichment, on the other hand, is not a recognized effect of opioid abuse, as the use of opioids generally leads to deterioration in physical and mental health rather than any form of enrichment.