safely

Key facts Opioids are pain medicines used for short-term relief of severe pain following surgery or an injury. They also help people manage pain caused by cancer and life limiting diseases. Opioids can cause serious side effects — even when used exactly as recommended by your doctor. Reduce your risk of serious side effects by avoiding alcohol, sedative medicines and illegal drugs if you take prescription opioids. Talk to your doctor as soon as possible if you still have pain while you are taking prescription opioids. What is an opioid? An opioid is a substance that blocks pain messages between