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What is a narcotic drug?
Are opioids a narcotic?
Are there different types of Narcotic Drugs?
What are narcotics used for?
What is a narcotic analgesic?
Are narcotics available by prescription?
Narcotics are drugs that produce analgesia, narcosis, and addiction and that sometimes also produce euphoria, a feeling of great elation. The best-known narcotics are the opiates, compounds found in or derived from opium.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Overview
- Codeine
- Tramadol
- Oxycodone
- Hydrocodone
- Hydromorphone
- Morphine
- Heroin
- Fentanyl and carfentanil
- Opium
Opioids are a category of drugs and medications that are generally used for pain relief.
People often take opioids for the feelings of euphoria and relaxation they can provide. There are a variety of different opioids, and some are taken more often than others.
The majority of opioids are controlled substances. This means the government regulates their manufacture, possession, and use.
Some opioids are human-made (synthetic), while others come from the opium poppy plant. Some are semi-synthetic.
While all opioids are different, common side effects include nausea and vomiting, itchiness, sedation, constipation, and slower breathing. Unintentional opioid poisoning is possible, too, and can lead to coma and death.
The term “narcotic” is sometimes used instead of “opioid.” This can create confusion because some people use the term to refer to any illegal drug. It can also have pejorative connotations. That’s why the term “opioid” is preferred.
Codeine is the most commonly taken opioid in the United States. It’s typically prescribed to treat and manage chronic pain or as part of palliative care. It can be injected or taken orally, either as a tablet or a liquid solution.
Some prescription cough medicines contain codeine alongside the antihistamine promethazine. These substances are sometimes combined with soda to make a drink nicknamed ”lean” or ”sizzurp.”
Common side effects of codeine include:
•abdominal cramps
•blurred vision
•constipation
Tramadol is an opioid that’s taken to treat moderate to severe pain. It’s often prescribed under the brand name Ultram.
It can be swallowed as pills or capsules. Sometimes people will crush tablets up and snort them. Like other opioids, it can make people feel happy and relaxed.
Common side effects of tramadol include:
•constipation
•dizziness
•drowsiness
Oxycodone is a semi-synthetic opioid prescribed for pain under the names Tylox, Percodan, and OxyContin.
Common nicknames include:
•”hillbilly heroin”
•”kicker”
•”oxy”
•”perc”
Hydrocodone is a semi-synthetic opioid used to treat pain. It’s often prescribed under the name Zohydro ER.
Common side effects of hydrocodone include:
•constipation
•drowsiness
•itchiness
•nausea
Hydromorphone, often prescribed as Dilaudid, is used to relieve pain.
Common nicknames include:
•”D”
•”dillies”
•”dust”
•”footballs”
Morphine is a nonsynthetic opioid made from opium. It’s often prescribed as MS-Contin, Oramorph SR, and Roxanol.
Common nicknames include:
•”dreamer”
•”emsel”
•”first line”
•”God’s drug”
Heroin is made from morphine and can elicit feelings of euphoria. Common nicknames include:
•”chiva”
•”horse”
•”smack”
•”thunder”
It’s often in the form of a white or brown powder or as a sticky black substance, which is known as black tar heroin. It’s often injected or smoked but can also be snorted.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as an analgesic and an anesthetic.
As an analgesic, it’s around 100 times more potent than morphine and about 50 times more potent than heroin.
Common nicknames include:
•”Apache”
•”dance fever
•“goodfellas”
Opium is a non-synthetic narcotic extracted from the poppy plant and made into a liquid, powder, or solid. The opium poppy is a key base for a number of opioids.
Common nicknames include:
•”Chinese molasses”
•”dopium”
•”gee”
•”guma”
- Adam England
May 22, 2023 · Although many narcotic drugs and medications have similar effects or characteristics, each substance is unique. Here are some common examples.
- Adam England
Narcotics are substances and preparations that induce drowsiness, sleep, stupor, insensibility, etc., and that these effects (and their rate) are complicated to prove, e.g. during litigation. Thus, the legal definition of a narcotic is whether or not it is listed on the Schedules of the convention.
Oct 5, 2022 · Opioids, also called narcotics, are a class of drugs that work to relieve pain. A doctor may prescribe opioids to help treat symptoms like: postsurgery pain. chronic pain. chronic...
- Emily Swaim
A narcotic drug, also called a narcotic analgesic or opioid, is a medication prescribed by a doctor to relieve moderate to severe pain, either acute (short-term) or chronic (longer-term or continuous) pain.
Opioids (sometimes called narcotics) are a class of drugs that are chemicals — natural or synthetic — that interact with nerve cells that have the potential to reduce pain. Healthcare providers typically prescribe opioids to manage moderate to severe pain.
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