The opioid epidemic in America has made opioid medications household names. Even lower strength pain killers are now being abused by millions of people in the country. If you are wondering how strong or weak each type of opioid is compared to one another, this article will give you this information.
The opioids are listed down from strongest to weakest as compared to morphine.
Carfentanil
Carfentanil is an opioid that is used for large animals such as elephants and rhinoceros. Ingesting carfentanil can be deadly for humans.
Carfentanil is a high strength opioid that is 10,000 times stronger than morphine.
Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a deadly opioid that has been the cause of numerous opioid overdoses and deaths in America.
Fentanyl is a high strength opioid that is 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine.
Buprenorphine
This opioid is used to treat acute and chronic pain. It is also being used to treat opioid addiction.
Buprenorphine is a high strength opioid that is 40 times stronger than morphine.
Oxymorphone
Oxymorphone is also known by the brand name Opana. It is used to treat severe pain and usually comes in pill form or as a liquid injection.
Oxymorphone is a medium strength opioid that is ten times stronger than morphine.
U-47700
This is a synthetic opioid that is also known in the streets as pinky or pink. It is usually acquired through illicit means such as buying the drugs from social media or on the internet.
U-47700 is a medium strength opioid that is said to be 7.5 to 10 times stronger than morphine.
Hydromorphone
Hydromorphone is also known as Dilaudid and it is normally prescribed for severe pain. People suffering from opioid abuse use it as a substitute for heroin.
Hydromorphone is a medium strength opioid that is five to ten times stronger than morphine.
Heroin
Heroin is made from morphine but unlike other opioids, it does not have a medical purpose. This is the reason why it is considered illegal as it has a very high potential for abuse. Many people who have built tolerance for lower strength prescription opioids often turn to heroin as it is much cheaper and it can give a more intense high.
Heroin is a medium strength opioid that is two to five times stronger than morphine.
Methadone
Methadone has a similar structure to heroin and morphine. It is often used to treat opioid addiction and should only be used under strict professional supervision.
Methadone is a medium strength opioid that is three times stronger than morphine.
Oxycodone
Oxycodone is another opioid that is commonly abused due to its calming and sedating effects. It is sold under the brand name OxyContin and Percocet.
Oxycodone is a lower strength opioid that is 50% stronger or 1.5 times stronger than morphine.
Hydrocodone
Hydrocodone used to be one of the most prescribed drugs in America for many years. Due to the massive number of prescriptions, reaching more than 100 million prescriptions in a year, the rate of hydrocodone abuse became very high. Vicodin, Lortab and Lorcet are common brand names of Vicodin.
Hydrocodone is a lower strength opioid that is equal in strength to morphine.
Morphine
Morphine is a natural opioid. It is often used as a pain reliever for ongoing severe pain. Morphine is often prescribed to patients suffering from cancer.
Tapentadol
Tapentadol is a painkiller for moderate to severe pain usually given following surgery and injury. An extended release version of tapentadol is used as a round-the-clock pain medication.
Tapentadol is a lower strength opioid that is two to three times weaker than morphine.
Tramadol
Tramadol is an opioid that is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Assumptions that it does not pose any addiction risks was proven false after findings that it is just as habit forming as other opioids. Because tramadol is much cheaper than other opioids, many people abuse tramadol as a recreational drug.
Tramadol is a lower strength opioid that is 10% as strong as morphine.
Meperidine
Meperidine or also known as pethidine is sold under the brand name Demerol. This painkiller was initially believed to be safer than other opioids, but later findings proved that it carries an equal risk for addiction. Because it contains norpethidine, a toxic metabolite, it is found to be more toxic than other opioids, especially when used long-term.
Meperidine is a lower strength opioid that is seven to ten times weaker than morphine.
Codeine
Codeine is used to relieve mild to moderate pain. Aside from being used as a pain reliever, this prescription medication is also used to treat coughing and diarrhea. While it is considered as a weaker opioid, it has a potential for abuse.
Codeine is a lower strength opioid that is seven to fourteen times weaker than morphine.
Laudanum
Up until the early 20th century, laudanum was sold without prescription as a treatment for pain and as a cough suppressant. It is a tincture of opium ad contains 10% of powdered opium by weight. At present laudanum is considered addictive and is regulated throughout most of the world.
Laudanum is a lower strength opioid that is 1% as strong as morphine.
| Name of Opioid | Strength Compared to Morphine | Strength Level |
| Carfentanil | 10,000 times > morphine | High strength opioid |
| Fentanyl | 50 to 100 times > morphine | High strength opioid |
| Buprenorphine | 40 times > morphine | High strength opioid |
| Oxymorphone | 10 times > morphine | Medium strength opioid |
| U-47700 | 7.5 to 10 times > morphine | Medium strength opioid |
| Hydromorphone | 5 to 10 times > morphine | Medium strength opioid |
| Heroin | 2 to 5 times > morphine | Medium strength opioid |
| Methadone | 3 times > morphine | Medium strength opioid |
| Oxycodone | 50 percent (1.5 times) > morphine | Lower strength opioid |
| Hydrocodone | Equal in strength to morphine | Lower strength opioid |
| Morphine | Lower strength opioid | |
| Tapentadol | 2 to 3 times < morphine | Lower strength opioid |
| Tramadol | 10 percent as strong as morphine | Lower strength opioid |
| Meperidine | 7 to 10 times < morphine | Lower strength opioid |
| Codeine | 7 to 14 times < morphine | Lower strength opioid |
| Laudanum | 1 percent as strong as morphine | Lower strength opioid |
If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, help is available.
Contact Morningside Recovery by Lighthouse today.
