'opioid-linked' originates from the combination of 'opioid' and 'linked', where 'opioid' refers to substances that act on opioid receptors in the brain and 'linked' means connected or associated.

The term 'opioid' comes from the word 'opium', which has been used for centuries, while 'linked' is derived from the Old English 'hlencan', meaning to join or connect.

Initially, 'opioid-linked' simply meant connected to opioids, but over time it has come to specifically refer to issues related to opioid abuse and its societal impacts.