Use and abuse of opioid analgesics: potential methods to prevent and deter non-medical consumption of prescription opioids.

Medicinal opiates can produce both analgesia and euphoria. The mood altering action of this class of drugs has led to their abuse (non-medical use), a problem compounded by their physical dependence and addictive qualities. The legitimate expansion of clinical opioid analgesic use for severe chronic non-malignant pain, together with the introduction of high-dose extended-release (modified-release) oral tablet formulations of opioids with good bioavailability, has created increased opportunities for the illicit use of these prescribed drugs.