In the drug addiction conversation, one type of substance is increasingly monopolizing the discussion: opioids. As defined by the National Institute of Health, “opioids are a class of natural, semi-synthetic, and synthetic drugs. These include both prescription medications used to treat pain and illegal drugs like heroin.” [1] They are the fastest growing drug category among overdose deaths is synthetic opioids. [2] Per the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, “opioids kill more than 136 Americans every day.”[3]

Below is a list of the most commonly abused opioids are:[4]

• Codeine
• Fentanyl  (Actiq®, Duragesic®)
• Hydromorphone  (Dilaudid®)
• Meperidine  (Demerol®)
• Methadone(Dolophine®)
• Morphine  (MS Contin®)
• Oxycodone  (Percocet®, Percodan®, Oxycontin® and Roxicodone®)
• Oxymorphone  (Opana®)

 

[1] “Opioids.” National Institute of Health, December 3, 2024. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/opioids.
[2] “Drug Overdose Death Statistics [2023]: Opioids, Fentanyl & More.” NCDAS, May 3, 2024. https://drugabusestatistics.org/drug-overdose-deaths/.
[3] Ibid.
[4] “Abuse of Opioids.” CT.gov. Accessed January 30, 2025. https://portal.ct.gov/dcp/drug-control-division/drug-control/abuse-of-opioids?language=en_US.