Opioids, or narcotics, are a type of drug that cause pain relief, drowsiness, and in high doses, euphoria. According to the DEA, “Narcotics/opioids come in various forms, including: tablets, capsules, skin patches… liquid form for oral use and injection, suppositories, and lollipops.” Below is a list of the most commonly used opioid medications.
Opioid Medications
Hydrocodone is a commonly prescribed opioid medication.
Opioids are beneficial medications, but they can be dangerous too. “Overdoses of narcotics are not uncommon and can be fatal,” especially when they are being abused, and it is important for anyone taking medications prescribed by their doctor to understand how the drugs may affect their health. The most common opioid medications are listed below along with their brand names, the forms they typically come in, and their DEA schedule (based on the likelihood for abuse with those which are more likely to be abused ranking higher).
Hydrocodone
- Brands: Lorcet, Lortab, Vicodin, Hycodan, Hycet, Ibudone, Liquicet, Zydone, Zutripro, Vicoprofen, Rezira, Reprexain, Norco, Maxidone, TussiCaps, Tussionex
- Forms: “capsule, liquid, tablet” (NIDA)
- Schedule: II
- Hydrocodone is normally prescribed in combination with other medications such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, chlorpheniramine to better treat pain.
Oxycodone
- Brands: OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan, Oxecta, Roxicodone, Roxicet, Oxycet
- Forms: capsule, tablet, liquid
- Schedule: II
- Oxycodone was abused in large numbers for a long period of time by individuals attempting to get high off the drug. According to CESAR, “Most users will experience mild side effects” when using the drug “under the care of a physician,” but those who abuse it put themselves in extreme danger.
Morphine
- Brands: Duramorph, Roxanol, Avinza, MS Contin, Kadian, RMS Suppository, Astramorph, Infumorph
- Forms: liquid, suppository, capsule, tablet
- Schedule: II and III
- Morphine is often used to treat individuals with severe cases of pain.
Hydromorphone
- Brands: Dilaudid, Exalgo
- Forms: suppository, liquid, tablet
- Schedule: II
- Hydromorphone is also used as a cough suppressant.
Oxymorphone
- Brands: Opana
- Forms: tablet only
- Schedule: II
- Oxymorphone has many street names used by individuals who abuse the drug including: “Blue Heaven, Blues, Mrs. O, New Blues, Octagons, Oranges, Orgasna IR, OM, Pink, Pink Heaven, Pink Lady, Pink O, Stop Signs, and The O Bomb” (DOJ).
Fentanyl
- Brands: Duragesic, Sublimaze, Actiq, Onsolis, Fentora, Abstral, Lazanda, Subsys
- Forms: tablet, sublingual, film, lozenge
- Schedule: II
- Fentanyl is used to treat breakthrough pain in cancer patients and other individuals who take other opioid medications for pain relief (NLM).
Codeine
- Brands: Brontex, Cheracol, Cheratussin, Robitussin, Guiatuss AC, Vanacof, Phenergan, Nalex
- Forms: liquid, tablet, capsule
- Schedule: II, III, IV
- Codeine is used to treat pain but is also prescribed as a syrup combined with promethazine to treat cough. Younger users often abuse this substance without realizing how dangerous it is under the slang terms purple drank, sizzurp, or lean.
Methadone
- Brands: Methadose, Dolophine, Diskets
- Forms: tablet, liquid
- Schedule: II
- Methadone can often be used to treat cases of opioid addiction, but it can still cause euphoria in high doses.
Meperidine
- Brands: Demerol
- Forms: liquid, tablet
- Schedule: II
- Meperidine’s brand name medication Demerol is often called demmies by abusers and those who sell it illegally.
How to Avoid Relapse After Opiate Addiction Treatment -
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, heroin and opiate addiction are powerful addictions. The chances of relapsing back into opiate addiction are extremely high. Fortunately, there are a variety of simple ways to avoid relapse. Avoid People and Places you Associate with Using It is likely that the people and places you used ... 
10 Opium Drug Effects -
While opium may seldom be used in its purest form, many prescription medications either contain opium or are synthetically made to produce opium drug effects. Likewise, heroin, one of the most popular opium-derived drugs on the market, produces some of the strongest opium drug effects of all. Opium contains certain alkaloids known for their ability ... 
Holistic Methods of Opium Treatment for Addiction -
Opium or opium-based drugs have taken on a reputation as some of the most addictive drugs on the market. While opium itself comes directly from the opium poppy seed plant, opium-based drugs take on a variety of forms, from Dilaudid to Demerol to morphine and even heroin. Not surprisingly, effective methods of opium treatment for ... 
Is Opium as Addictive as Heroin? -
Opium is a highly addictive drug, just as heroin is. The latter drug is synthesized from morphine, which is also found in the plant papaver somniferum, along with opium. These too drugs are very similar, but many wonder if one is more addictive than the other. Schedule I vs. Schedule II According to the Drug ... 
Post Holiday Blues: How to Avoid Opiate Relapse After the Holidays -
Although the holidays are a time for merriment and family, the time after the holidays can be difficult for some. Just as some people are stressed during the holidays, others are stressed after the holidays. The let down from all of the activity can be devastating to a recovering opiate addict. According to the National ...