Opioids are frequently used in medicine for pain relief. The most commonly used opioids include morphine sulfate (Duramorph, MS Contin, Roxanol); meperidine (Demerol); hydromorphone (Dilaudid); oxymorphone (Numorphan); methadone; codeine phosphate and codeine sulfate; oxycodone (Percocet, Percodan); and hydrocodone (Hycodan, Vicodin). These substances are also, however, among the most common drugs of abuse. When taken under medical supervision, opioid drugs have a low level of serious toxicity. The most common side effects are nausea, drowsiness, and constipation—but when self-ad-ministered, not under medical supervision, their use is associated with a high incidence of untoward actions and side effects, as well as with a high death rate when used alone or in combination with other drugs (including ALCOHOL).

Table 1 presents estimates of untoward actions of opioids, derived from data collected by the DRUG ABUSE WARNING NETWORK (DAWN), which appeared in the Annual Emergency Room...