A United States medical examiner has reported that musician Prince died from an overdose of fentanyl, a powerful pain killer and synthetic opioid 100 times stronger than morphine.
Pharmaceutical opioids, drugs resembling properties of the opium poppy, have an important place in medicine. They are used for pain relief, particularly in illnesses such as cancer and in palliative care.
However, Australia has seen a steady increase in the non-medical use of prescription opioids, more recently in fentanyl.
