Which category includes pain relievers with potential for abuse and dependence?

• A. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• B. Analgesics without abuse risk
• C. Opioid antagonists
• D. Narcotic analgesics

Answer: (D)

Pain relievers with potential for abuse and dependence are narcotic analgesics, i.e., opioids. They provide strong pain relief by activating mu-opioid receptors in the brain and spinal cord, but this same action can produce euphoria and reinforcement, leading to misuse, tolerance, and physical dependence. That abuse risk is why these drugs are tightly regulated and require careful monitoring in practice. Other options don’t fit: NSAIDs may cause side effects but aren’t typically abused; opioid antagonists block opioid effects and are used to treat overdose rather than for analgesia; a category like “analgesics without abuse risk” isn’t a standard or accurate classification.