9781422274286

Opioid painkillers are prescribed by doctors to treat acute pain after surgery or injuries, or to relieve longer-term pain from chronic , serious illnesses. A group of opioid painkillers called narcotics include codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, meperidine, morphine, oxycodone, and tramadol. Codeine is a commonly prescribed narcotic that suppresses coughs and can also treat pain. It is sometimes combined with acetaminophen and is used in many prescribed medications for cough and cold. Codeine is only one-tenth as strong as morphine. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid which is similar to codeine. Both codeine and tramadol are less potent than other opioid pain relievers and have less risk of dependency or addiction and withdrawal. Hydrocodone is also combined with acetaminophen, often under the brand name Vicodin, and prescribed for moderate to severe pain.

Acute pain is the term for the sensation that accompanies a sudden injury, such as a broken bone. This is pain that tells the body that damage is occurring, or has occurred, and usually doesn’t last very long. As the injury heals, the acute pain recedes.

10

Painkillers: The Scourge on Society