Over the past several years there has been an increase in the non-medical use of prescription painkillers, often referred to as narcotic analgesics (NA). Little is known about the prevalence of NA users, their characteristics, and the health and social consequences of NA use. In order to generate a greater understanding of NA users, survey data were collected from 242 participants from Hartford, CT, and mortality data were obtained from the State of Connecticut Medical Examiner’s Office. The surveys focused on drug use, risk behaviors, health status, psychiatric conditions, and treatment history. Results indicate that NA use is widespread in the inner city among both males and females of varying ages. The findings also suggest that those who abuse NA also abuse Benzodiazepines, which is particularly risky when mixed with an opiate. This may account for the finding that NA users were more likely to report a drug-related overdose than those who did not use NA. Increased risk for psychiatric symptomatology and hepatitis C was also found among NA users. The relationship between NA use and hepatitis C remains unclear and would be a valuable focus for future research. Tables, references