Narcotics / Opiates
Narcotics include substances like Heroin, Morphine and Methadone. Prescription narcotics, such as Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Demerol, Lortab, Vicodin and Percocet, are used as pain relievers. As a class, these drugs can be snorted, smoked, injected, taken as a pill, inserted in a suppository or absorbed transdermally through a patch. People use these drugs because they numb the senses and produce a general sense of wellbeing. They reduce tension and relieve anxiety. Illicit narcotics are famous for causing catastrophic overdose. Inconsistent potency, irregular dosing and poisonous cutting agents place these drug users in great danger of sudden death. Disease and infection is also associated with the intravenous use of these drugs. Prescription narcotics are also heavily abused, and are subject to the same dangers associated with improper dosing. Vicodin, for example, is more than twice as strong as morphine, and the high levels of acetaminophen can destroy the liver with prolonged use. Many prescription narcotic users turn to heroin as a cheaper way of satisfying their addiction to prescription narcotics.
Signs of Narcotic Use: While under the influence of narcotics, the user will appear drowsy. They will oftentimes have droopy eyelids and speak in a soft tone. They will have trouble concentrating. Significantly, though, there will be no clumsiness or slurred speech, as you would see with depressants. Narcotics cause the users pupils to constrict. Blood vessels dilate, causing a flushing of the face and neck. Pulse rate, respirations, blood pressure and body temperature will be lower than normal.
Paraphernalia Paraphernalia associated with narcotic use is specific to the method of ingestion. It can range from snorting straws and needles to pill wrappers and foil packs. Prescription pills are often crushed into powder and then snorted. Please review the paraphernalia and prescription pill pages for more information. Please visit the paraphernalia page for more information on this topic.
Preventing Narcotic Abuse can be accomplished by following the advice listed on the preventing substance abuse page. In general, parents must take great care to guard any prescription pain relievers that they are storing in the home. Don’t keep pills for longer than they are needed to treat the condition being treated. Store them in a locked cabinet or drug safe.
The following drugs are listed in the Narcotic Category. Click on a drug to visit it’s fact sheet:
