Final answer:
The opioid most commonly abused by healthcare providers is Oxycodone (OxyContin). It is used to relieve moderate to severe pain and has a high potential for abuse due to its analgesic and euphoric effects. Aggressive monitoring of prescription opiates has led to a shift towards the abuse of more accessible illegal opioids.
Step-by-step explanation:
Most Commonly Abused Opioid by Healthcare Providers
The opioid that has historically been abused most frequently by healthcare providers is Oxycodone [OxyContin]. Oxycodone is an opioid drug that is used to relieve moderate to severe pain. Extended-release tablets and capsules of oxycodone are designed to provide pain relief around the clock for individuals with chronic pain. It is structurally similar to heroin and mimics the body's natural painkilling mechanisms that bind to opioid receptors in the brain. This potential for abuse is heightened due to its analgesic and euphoric effects.
Derived from the opium poppy, opioids are powerful drugs that can change the way pain is experienced by attaching to specific receptors in the brain and other parts of the body. Morphine and codeine are also common opioids that are used to treat pain and are derived from opium. However, due to aggressive policing of pill mills and reformulations of prescription pain pills like oxycodone, there has been a shift towards illegal opioids, such as heroin and fentanyl, due to their accessibility and lower cost.
Opioid addiction can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms that are flu-like in nature, although not life-threatening, and oftentimes medications such as methadone or buprenorphine are used to alleviate these symptoms and manage withdrawal.