Even Legitimate Opioid Use May Cause Overdose

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Perhaps it’s not surprising, but people who take high doses of opioid painkillers even for legitimate medical reasons are at risk of overdosing, new research shows. The findings add to the ongoing controversy over this class of potentially addictive drugs, which includes morphine and oxycodone (Oxycontin). When taken in excess, they slow the breathing muscles, and users suffocate.

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