Analgetic Drugs

Abstract

ONE important characteristic of the potent analgetics or opioids is addiction liability, which requires that their prescription be regulated. The restrictions thus imposed have led to hesitation in prescribing potent analgetics and to a concern out of proportion to the possibility of causing harm.The older terms habituation and addiction are confusing. Recently, they have been replaced by "drug dependence," a state arising from the repeated use of drugs on a periodic or continuous basis. Dependence can develop from the use or abuse of many drugs and is designated as morphine-type, barbiturate-type, amphetamine-type and the like. "Dependence" may further be . . .