Opiate Painkillers

Opioid painkillers are medicines that are usually prescribed to people for pain but are also often ‘diverted’ to be used illegally. They are a depressant and are similar to drugs such as heroin.

There are a lot of different brand names and nicknames including Tylenol III, Demerol, Vicodin, Percocet, morphine, hillbilly heroin, OxyContin, Oxycodone, MS Contin, oxies, Panadiene, Panadiene Forte,  Codeine, Mersyndol, captain cody,  schoolboy, doors and fours, loads, M, monkey, white stuff, demmies, pain killer, apache, China girl, goodfella, jackpot or TNT.

Opioid painkillers are often bought and sold illegally to be used by people who they were not prescribed for. Opioid painkillers come as tablets or capsules in different shapes and colours and are sometimes ground into powder or liquid. They are swallowed or injected and occasionally snorted.

The effects of opiate painkillers include: pain relief, feelings of wellbeing, relaxation and sleepiness as well as constipation, vomiting, sweating, and itching.

An overdose of opiate painkillers can result in shallow breathing, bluish lips, or an inability to be roused or woken. Call an ambulance if any of these symptoms occur.

If you use these types of painkillers it is important to know how to be as safe as possible:

• Avoid using opioid painkillers outside of a prescription

• If injecting, use safe injecting practices and seek specialist advice about injecting pills

• Understand snorting and injecting delivers a more concentrated immediate dose

• Avoid using opioid painkillers with other substances especially other depressants such as benzos or alcohol because this significantly increases the risk of overdose.

• Call an ambulance if an overdose is suspected

See the Australian Drug Foundation for more drug facts