What are narcotics?
Narcotics (nahr-KOT-ics) are a type of medicine that is used to decrease or take away severe (very bad) pain. Narcotics may also be called opioids (OH-pe-oids). Some common names of narcotics ordered by a doctor (prescription) are codeine and morphine. Heroin is an illegal narcotic (street drug) in the United States that is made from morphine. Codeine is used as a painkiller, and is also found in some cough medicines.
All narcotics may cause constipation (kon-sti-PAY-shun). Constipation is a condition where you have hard, dry stools, which are difficult to pass, less often than usual.
How do narcotics work? Pain receptors are found in your brain. Pain receptors receive messages about pain from the nerves in your body. When the message arrives, you are aware that you are having pain. Narcotics work by stopping you from getting the message that you are having pain.
What is narcotic abuse? Narcotic abuse is when you continue to use narcotics, even though they are hurting you or others. Examples include the following ongoing or repeated problems:
- You are unable to do your job, attend school, or do necessary things at home, such as care for your children.
- You drive a vehicle or operate machinery while feeling the effects of narcotics, making the situation dangerous.
- You have legal problems related to using narcotics, such as being arrested while feeling the effects of the drug.
- You have ongoing or repeated problems with your friends, family, or others. These problems are caused or made worse by using narcotics.
What is narcotic dependence? Dependence on narcotics is when a pattern of using the drugs leads to at least three of the following problems during one year:
Tolerance. Tolerance means that you need more narcotics to feel the way that you want to feel. You may get fewer effects from the narcotic, even though you are using the same amount of it.
Withdrawal. You may have certain signs and symptoms if you stop using narcotics after using them heavily over a period of time. Withdrawal problems may also happen if after taking narcotics, your doctor has you take different medicine to replace the narcotic.
Using a similar drug to reduce or avoid the signs and symptoms of withdrawal.
Using more narcotics than you first wanted to. You may use more, or use it over a longer time than you first wanted to.
Being unable to decrease or control your use of narcotics. You may want narcotics all of the time. You may feel it is not possible to decrease or control the amount of drugs you are using.
Much of your time is spent using narcotics, or managing a hangover after using the drug. "Hangover" is a word used for how you feel hours after using a drug. You may feel very tired and sick to your stomach.
You spend less time around others, at work, or doing activities that you enjoy. You may spend most or all of your time using or searching for narcotics.
Even with a physical or mental condition that gets worse when using narcotics, you keep using the drug. For example, after using narcotics, you may get depressed (very sad). Even though you know this will happen, you keep using narcotics.
What is withdrawal? Signs and symptoms of withdrawal occur if you stop using narcotics after using them heavily over a period of time. They may also happen if after taking narcotics, your doctor has you take different medicine to replace the narcotic. Signs and symptoms may begin within minutes or days, and continue for days, or even months. If you are in withdrawal, you will have three or more of the following signs and symptoms:
- Feelings of deep sadness and anxiety.
- Feeling sick to your stomach, or throwing up.
- Muscle aches.
- Watery eyes or runny nose.
- The pupils of your eyes become very large. (Your pupil is the black circle in the middle of your eye.) You may sweat, or have "goose-bumps" on your skin.