"Opioids are natural or synthetic chemicals that bind to receptors in your brain or body. Common opioids include heroin and prescription drugs such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl." (HHS)
A letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine on January 10, 1980 (below) may have been used to justify physicians prescribing certain drugs that today are considered highly addictive:
June 2017 - NEJM Editor's Note: For reasons of public health, readers should be aware that this letter (above) has been “heavily and uncritically cited” as evidence that addiction is rare with opioid therapy Leung et al.describe its history. (below.)
August 31st
Prescription or illegal:
Emergency treatment - reverses an overdose
Treatments