Narcotics - Pain Reliever or an Addictive Drug?
There are a few different ways to describe a narcotic. Many years ago the word narcotic was used in reference to the Greek word for 'stupor'. Stupor and narcotic referred to many different substances that were used to dull a person's senses and relieve pain.
Today narcotics are referred to as illegal substances like heroin or morphine as well as legitimate substances that therapeutically are used to treat pain, quiet coughs, control diarrhea and for anesthesia. Many people refer to narcotics as 'drugs' when referencing both illegal (illicit) or legitimate substances. In legal terms narcotic means illicit, illegal and prohibited by law.
When narcotics are used therapeutically and medically prescribed they are taken orally, trans-dermally (skin patch), or injected. Suppositories are available also. When narcotics are abused they are taken orally, smoked, sniffed, or injected. Abused narcotics are taken in much larger doses and often mixed or combined with other drugs or alcohol. Narcotics are primarily abused for the physical and psychological effects they receive when using them.
The abuse of Illicit drugs and prescription drugs are growing at an alarming rate today in America. Watch this news report regarding the use and abuse of illegal drugs, prescription drugs and the dangerous side effects that these drugs can have including death.
Examples of Illegal Narcotics That Are Abused
Heroin is extremely addictive and much more potent than morphine but is a by-product of morphine. Because of the extreme and intense euphoria the heroin user receives when abusing this narcotic it has become a drug of choice for many drug users. Heroin is produced from opium and when it's abused it's very fast acting.
Heroin is an illegal narcotic and has been classified as a Schedule 1 substance because the ability for abuse is high and there is no legitimate purpose in the medical field in the United States. You never know exactly what chemicals and ingredients are mixed into the heroin so it's impossible for the narcotic user to know how high the purity level is. This is one of the reasons the risk of heroin overdose is so high. Heroin is also referred to as:
- Hell dust
- Capital H
- White junk
- China white
- Mexican horse
- Dead on arrival
- Big H
- Good H
Cocaine is a very powerful stimulant drug and considered an illegal narcotic. Cocaine abuse is extremely widespread throughout the United States and other parts of the world. Crack is another form of cocaine that has gone through a process in order to make 'rock crystal'. When the rock crystal is heated the drug user smokes the vapors that are produced.
Cocaine comes from coca plant leaves and are both illegal in the United States. Drug users and dealers commonly refer to cocaine as:
- Nose candy
- Marching powder
- All American drug
Some of the street terms for crack cocaine are:
- Black rock
- Apple jacks
Cocaine and crack cocaine are both illegal narcotics and are classified as Schedule II substances because of their high abuse potential. Abuse of cocaine and crack cocaine can lead to psychological and physical dependence.
Examples of Legal (Legitimate) Narcotics That Are Abused
Codeine is a widely used legal narcotic in the medical field and is found in opium. Codeine is prescribed for relieving moderate pain and to suppress coughs and is a very successful narcotic when used legitimately as prescribed.
Cough suppressants that contain codeine are classified as a Schedule V substance and can be found in several liquid forms. When codeine is made into tablet form and is combined with aspirin or acetaminophen for example Tylenol with Codeine it's classified as a Schedule III substance.
Sadly legal narcotics are abused because of the effects the user receives when abusing them. This is done by taking large doses or mixing them with other drugs or substances.
Morphine when legally prescribed is used to relieve pain and is derived from opium. Morphine is one of the most effective legal narcotics used for the treatment of pain. Morphine is manufactured in several forms and is administered by oral solution, tablets, capsules, suppositories and injectable form.
Morphine when administered for therapeutic reasons is extremely successful in treating pain. Many people prefer to abuse morphine and refer to it as:
- Hard stuff
- White stuff
- Miss Emma
The effects of morphine are quite similar to heroin when abused. Many drug users that abuse heroin also abuse morphine. Because morphine can be addictive and is so highly abused it is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance.
Narcotics Detox and Treatment
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