Final answer:
Heroin and prescription painkillers such as Fentanyl, Morphine, Oxycodone, and Vicodin belong to the class of drugs known as opioids, which are powerful analgesics with high potential for abuse and addiction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Heroin and prescription painkillers like Fentanyl, Morphine, Oxycodone, and Vicodin belong to a class of drugs known as opioids. Opioids are substances that have the ability to relieve pain, which categorize them as analgesics. They can be naturally derived from the opium poppy, as in the case of morphine and codeine, or synthetically manufactured. These drugs operate by mimicking the body's own pain relief mechanism, binding to opioid receptors in the brain to decrease pain and produce euphoria.
Due to their effect on the opioid receptors, opioids have a high potential for abuse and addiction. Prescription pain medications such as hydrocodone and oxycodone are often used to manage severe pain but have been identified as significant public health concerns due to the risks of addiction, overdose, and misuse.
Addressing your question, opioids is the correct classification for both heroin and prescription painkillers. Therefore, the answer is (d) opioids.