What are opioids, and what is their place in medical practice?
Opioids are strong painkillers, derived synthetically or naturally from opium. They are used to treat many types of pain. Most people will receive a prescription for an opioid at some point to relieve the short-term pain of surgery or injury. Many other people – up to 70 million, according to the National Pain Foundation – will need opioids long term to relieve chronic pain, both cancer and noncancer.
