The Opioid Problem
In 2016, opioid overdose deaths increased to more than 42,000 Americans. This goes to show that opioid overdose is still a major public health problem in the United States.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids fall into three main groups:
A prescription medicine used to treat and reduce physical pain.
Illegal drugs like heroin.
Illegal opioids like fentanyl analogs (e.g., carfentanil).
There are several prescription medication opioids, but some of the well-known ones you may have heard of before include:
- Morphine
- Codeine
- Methadone
- Oxycodone
- Hydrocone
- Fentanyl
- Hydromorphone
- Buprenorphine
