Fentanyl

Known as the most powerful prescription opioid, fentanyl is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. It is typically prescribed for intense pain management, particularly in surgical and cancer settings. Fentanyl’s illicit production has contributed to the opioid epidemic as it is being used as a cutting agent in a wide range of street drugs. Its extreme potency means that even a dose as small as two milligrams, comparable to 5-8 grains of salt.

An illegal substance derived from morphine, heroin can be injected, snorted, or smoked Users typically experience intense feelings of pleasure, euphoria, and sedation. Heroin is highly addictive and poses serious long-term health risks, including organ damage and mental health issues.

A natural opium derivative, morphine is widely prescribed for severe pain relief, such as in cancer treatment or post-surgery. Morphine acts on the nervous system and brain to impede pain signals, while also inducing feelings of relaxation and euphoria, which raises the risk of dependence and addiction. Its potency is the standard for opioid strength measurement.

Commonly recognized by its brand name Dilaudid, is a powerful opioid often prescribed for managing severe pain. It carries a significant risk of abuse and addiction, being approximately 5 to 7 times more potent than morphine. This medication can induce strong feelings of euphoria and sedation. Both injectable forms and tablets can be misused by crushing and dissolving them for injection, sometimes as an alternative to heroin.

Roughly 1.5 to 2 times stronger than morphine, typically used for moderate to severe pain relief. It comes in both immediate-release and extended-release versions. In the 1990s, misconceptions about its addiction potential misled healthcare providers, resulting in a surge of prescriptions that played a significant role in the initial wave of the opioid crisis.

Hydrocodone is prescribed for individuals experiencing severe and ongoing pain who require consistent opioid treatment and cannot find relief with other medications. Additionally, it serves as a cough suppressant and is about 1.5 times less potent than morphine.

With a strength of about one-tenth that of morphine, is utilized for mild to moderate pain relief and as a cough suppressant. It is often combined with acetaminophen or aspirin. Common side effects include dizziness, fatigue, confusion, and euphoria, but it generally has a lower risk of addiction compared to hydrocodone.

Tramadol is indicated for moderate to moderately severe pain, including post-surgical discomfort. It is usually prescribed when pain is significant enough to necessitate opioid treatment, especially when other pain relievers are ineffective or intolerable. Tramadol is considerably weaker than morphine, with a potency ranging from one-tenth to one-fifteenth that of morphine.