The power of painkillers: Misuse and overdose | Sunday Investigates

If you’ve ever had surgery, a toothache, or painful periods, you’ve probably experienced the power of painkillers.

Morphine, codeine and tramadol are all strong pharmaceutical solutions to relieve debilitating pain, using opioids.

But opioids are extremely addictive, and once hooked, people are faced with difficult mental and physical symptoms.

Thousands of New Zealanders are receiving treatment for opioid use disorder, but is this long-running programme leaving patients vulnerable to misuse and overdose?

And are other, newer options needed?

Reporter: Mava Moayyed

Producer: Lee Taylor

Cameras: Rewi Heke, Tory Evans

Editor: Kate Linklater

-

Due to the immense volume of comments 1News videos attract, we've made the decision to hold all comments for review, and in some cases, turn them off entirely.

1News is a media outlet based in New Zealand, and could potentially be liable for any comments that defame others or breach New Zealand law. Our content receives thousands of comments each day, and we lack the capacity to moderate that volume without holding comments for review.

This decision ensures that our platform remains a safe and compliant space for all viewers. We appreciate your understanding and continued support.

-

Subscribe to 1News: bit.ly/1NewsYouTube | For the latest news from Aotearoa and overseas: https://www.1News.co.nz

This is the official channel of TVNZ's 1News, where we deliver the latest news, in-depth journalism and expert analysis from reporters you can trust. Subscribe for news and current affairs reports from 1News, Seven Sharp, Breakfast, Q+A, Fair Go and Sunday.