- Codeine - like morphine, it is a natural ingredient of opium, although less potent. It is found in prescription cough medicines and pain relievers.
- Opium – the sticky sap of the poppy seed pod. It is now rarely used medicinally, typically smoked.
- Opium derivatives - prescribed for moderate to severe pain:
hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
meperidine (Demerol)
oxycodone (Percodan, Percocet)
hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab, Lorcet)
- Methadone - a synthetic drug used mainly in the treatment of heroin addiction.
- Fentanyl - is a powerful synthetic drug used for severe pain and as a surgical anesthetic.2