Narcotics
Narcotics are opiates used to obtain a rush of pleasure, euphoria, and freedom from pain. They produce significant degrees of tolerance and physical dependence, causing abusers to spend increasing time and energy obtaining and using them.
Types
Street narcotics include heroin and opium. Other narcotics that can be obtained legally and then abused are codeine, Demerol, methadone, morphine, and Darvon, to name a few. All types of narcotics have been associated with severe withdrawal symptoms for abusers.
Methods of Use
Street versions are generally injected or swallowed.
Effects on the Central Nervous System
Narcotics cross the blood-brain barrier and quickly bind to opioid receptors in the brain, producing a euphoric rush of pleasure. This rush is often accompanied by dry mouth, heaviness in the arms and legs, and flushed skin. The activation of opioid receptors has many effects in the brain and body. Changes in the brain stem may depress vital body functions such as breathing and circulation. Changes in the limbic system may induce powerful emotional responses.
Intoxication
Side effects can include:
- Mood swings
- Psychosis
- Muscle twitching
- Irregular heartbeat
- Breathing problems
- Menstrual irregularity
- Reduced sex drive
Withdrawal
Withdrawal effects can be severe and may require medical treatment, especially in the case of unsupervised, sudden withdrawal from narcotics. Symptoms can resemble a flu-like illness and can range from sweating, muscle twitching, abdominal pain, and restlessness to fever, nausea and vomiting, dehydration, and low blood pressure. Symptoms can last for weeks.
Warning Signs
A person who is addicted to street narcotics may:
- Change the circle of friends and withdraw from non-using family and friends
- Borrow or steal money to buy drugs
- Compulsively seek the drugs and dwell on the next use
- Experience personality changes, poor judgment, and loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities
- Become evasive or lie about activities or whereabout
Opiates
Opiates are medications that relieve pain. They reduce the intensity of pain signals reaching the brain and affect those brain areas controlling emotion, which diminishes the effects of a painful stimulus. Medications that fall within this class include hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin), oxycodone (e.g., OxyContin, Percocet), morphine (e.g., Kadian, Avinza), codeine, and related drugs. Hydrocodone products are the most commonly prescribed for a variety of painful conditions, including dental and injury-related pain. Morphine is often used before and after surgical procedures to alleviate severe pain. Codeine, on the other hand, is often prescribed for mild pain. In addition to their painrelieving properties, some of these drugs—codeine and diphenoxylate (Lomotil) for example—can be used to relieve coughs and severe diarrhea.
