Prescription opioids, such as Oxycodone, Morphine, Codeine, and Hydrocodone are administered to patients to relieve mild to severe pain, but for those who abuse the drug it can cause a euphoric effect similar to heroin. When taken as prescribed, opioid painkillers are effective for pain management. According to the NIH (National Institutes of Health), “frequent prescription opioid users and those diagnosed with dependence or abuse of prescription opioids are more likely to switch to heroin; dependence on or abuse of prescription opioids has been associated with a 40-fold increased risk of dependence on or abuse of heroin.” With the opioid epidemic on the rise, more addicts are finding it difficult to obtain prescription pills and instead are turning to alternatives, such as heroin, which are more available and cheaper.
