Gary Hazen is charged with possessing eight different narcotics that, depending on circumstances, hold powerful if not lethal consequences for someone who uses them without a valid medical reason, according to a University of Wyoming pharmacist.

"It is unlikely a legitimate pain patient, with a legitimate prescribing doctor, would have this number of narcotics," said Dr. Melissa Hunter, drug information director for UW's School of Pharmacy.

Hunter would not discuss the Hazen case itself. But she discussed the characteristics of the narcotics, the various circumstances surrounding their use, and the recommended dosages per day.

Because of the potency, side effects and potential for addiction, state and federal law tightly controls the drugs, which are used by people suffering anything from a sprained ankle to the late stages of cancer.

Hazen told Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation special agent Tina Trimble that he did not have prescriptions for any controlled substances, according to an affidavit signed by the agent.

Before prescribing these medications, Hunter said doctors will assess a variety of issues with patients, such as their tolerance for the drug, their use of other drugs, the rate at which they metabolize medicine, and the stage of the disease.

"Doctors will try different treatments until they find one that works," she said.

It would be highly unusual for someone to have all the medications found in Hazen's house, because a doctor generally will stay with one type of drug that meets the needs of a patient, she said.

Reach Tom Morton at (307) 266-0592, or at tom.morton@trib.com.

Search totals

Approximate weight totals for the eight controlled substances that the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation alleges to have found in searches related to the Gary Hazen case, according to court documents:

Codeine 399 grams

Oxycodone 134 grams

Hydrocodone 278 grams

Diazepam 32 grams

Methadone 10 grams

Propoxyphene 65 grams

Chlordiazepoxide 9 grams

Liquid Morphine 350 grams

About the drugs

The following are the drugs named in the charging documents, with their purpose and dosage, according to Dr. Melissa Hunter, drug information director for the University of Wyoming's School of Pharmacy, and sources including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Codeine: A derivative of opium, it is the most widely used, naturally occurring narcotic in medical treatment in the world. Most codeine used in the U.S. is produced from morphine. It is the starting material for making the narcotic hydrocodone. It is medically prescribed for the relief of moderate pain and cough suppression. The usual dose is 15 to 60 milligrams every four to six hours as needed for pain and 10 to 20 milligrams every four to six hours as needed for cough; with a maximum daily recommended dosage of 360 milligrams for pain and 120 milligrams for cough.

Oxycodone: This synthetic painkiller - nicknamed "hillbilly heroin" because of its widespread abuse in Appalachia - is prescribed for moderate to high pain relief for injuries, arthritis and cancer. It is the main ingredient of the controlled-release OxyContin, immediate release OxyIR, in combination with aspirin in Percodan, and in combination with acetaminophen in Percocet. A 10 milligram dose of orally administered oxycodone is equivalent to a 10 milligram dose of injected morphine. The usual dose is 2.5 to 5 milligrams every six hours as needed for immediate pain relief, and 10 to 20 milligrams twice daily for chronic pain relief; with a maximum daily recommended dose of 20 milligrams for immediate release and 320 milligrams for controlled release.

Hydrocodone: This is a cough suppressant and used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain. It is the most frequently prescribed opiate in the U.S. with nearly 130 million prescriptions dispensed in 2006. It is often combined with acetaminophen in Vicodin, Lortab and Lorcet. The usual dose is 2.5 to 10 milligrams every four to six hours as needed; with a maximum daily recommended dose of 60 milligram.

Diazepam: A synthetic drug first marketed as Valium, it is used for treating anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and alcohol withdrawal. It is a derivative of the class of drugs known as benzodiazepines. The usual dose is 2 to 20 milligrams two to four times a day; with a maximum daily recommended dose of 40 milligrams.

Methadone: A synthetic opioid, it is most famous for treating heroin and morphine addiction. It also is used medically to treat pain and cough suppression. The usual dose is 2.5 to 10 milligrams every eight to 12 hours; with a maximum daily recommended dose of 30 milligrams.

Propoxyphene: A synthetic opioid used to treat mild to moderate pain. It is marketed as Darvon, and combined with acetaminophen for Darvocet. The usual dose is one tablet every four hours as needed; with a maximum daily recommended dose of 600 milligrams.

Chlordiazepoxide: A synthetic drug which is marketed under the trade names Novapam, Librium and Tropium. A derivative of the benzodiazepine class of drug, it is a sedative used for treating anxiety, sleep-related problems and muscle problems. It is related to temazepam. The usual dose is 15 to 300 milligrams divided three to four times a day; with a maximum daily recommended dosage of 300 milligrams.

Morphine: It is the original opioid, derived from the opium plant and the parent drug of heroin. It is used for relief of severe or chronic pain, and is highly addictive psychologically and physically. The usual dose is 5 to 30 milligrams every four hours as needed; with a maximum daily recommended dose of 120 milligrams.