What are narcotics ?

     Narcotics are drugs from the opiate family, drugs that are derived naturally from the seedpods of the opium poppy (papaver somniferum), or are produced synthetically and have opiate like effects. Narcotics reduce pain and create a state of well-being. Upon use, narcotics have an immediate effect on the body.

     The body creates its own natural opiate: endorphins. Endorphins are the bodies natural painkillers. When the body is in pain, it releases neurotransmitters, a stimuli or message to the body that it has pain. The brain then creates endorphins to block the pain messages from the brain/body. The word endorphins comes from the term endogenous, meaning morphine-like substances "produced in the body."

     Narcotics are highly addictive because they change the chemistry of the brain: they decrease the perception of pain and alter the body's reaction to pain. When taken, the body creates less endorphins because the effects of narcotics are so much more intense than those of endorphins.

     If you stop taking narcotics, your body goes through the effects of withdrawal. This occurs because your body cannot produce enough endorphins quickly enough to make you feel good, the way narcotics do. There are not enough endorphins to block the pain and your body becomes physically addicted to narcotics. This is where the habituation to the drug starts as the user must replace the missing endorphins with narcotics in order to feel good and to avoid the painful effects of narcotic withdrawal. This leads to the dependance of the drug.

Why do people take narcotics ?

     Narcotics are taken for their ability to relieve pain, create relaxation and for their immediate euphoric affect.

Types of narcotics:

Natural opiates
Opium
Morphine
Codeine >> Doriden, Empirin, Tylenole with Codeine
Thebaine

Opiate Derivatives - Semi Synthetic
Dextromethorphan
Etorphine
Heroin >> Diacetylmorphine
Hydrocodone >> Anexsia, Hycodan, Hycomine, Lorcet, Lortab, Tussionex, Tylox, Vicodin, and Vicoprofen.
Hydromorphone >> Dilaudid
Oxycodone >> OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan, Roxicet, Roxicodone, Tylox