Examples of narcotics

Examples of legal narcotics include:

• Codeine
• Demerol
• Dilaudid
• Fiorinal
• Morphine
• Novahistex
• Percodan
• Talwin
• Methadone

Examples of illegal narcotics include:

• Opium
• Morphine
• Heroin

Slang

Opium: big O, black stuff, block

Morphine: duramorph, M, Miss Emma, monkey, roxanol, white stuff.

Heroin: smack, H, skag, brown sugar and junk

How it works

Narcotics work by interfering with pain impulses in the brain and spinal cord. They change the messages that your brain sends and prevents you from feeling the intensity of the pain. Narcotics don’t stop the pain from happening; it just changes how you perceive it.

Side effects

• Euphoria
• Drowsiness
• Loss of pain sensations
• Constipation
• Urinary problems
• Restlessness
• Nausea

Long term effects

• Inability to resist disease and infection
• Inflammation of the veins
• Arthritis
• Bronchial congestion
• Hepatitis and/or skin abscesses or other growths
• Developing a tolerance to the drugs
• Possibly death

Facts

• Narcotics or opiates are the terms used to describe a group of pain killers.
• While they can be abused, some of these drugs can be prescribed by your doctor to relieve moderate to severe pain. They are also prescribed to treat diarrhea or to suppress a cough. Codeine (a less potent narcotic) is even available over the counter at your pharmacy.
• Morphine is only legally available in water-soluble salts which are used for medicinal purposes (morphine sulphate or morphine hydrochloride).
• Other types of narcotics are illegal and are only used recreationally.
• Some people abuse narcotics because they receive a pleasant feeling of euphoria after taking these drugs.
• Narcotics are addictive and regular use builds tolerance.
• Some users tend to mistakenly believe that sniffing or smoking heroin will not lead to addiction.
• An overdose of narcotics can result in death.
• Controlled methadone use is so far producing the best result in helping addicts get off heroin. Slowly clinics are appearing in areas of high addiction to help people recover. Methadone does not produce the same “high,” but does prevent symptoms of withdrawal and the craving for heroin. In essence, methadone breaks the cycle and allows users to lead productive lives as they heal.
• After heroin, morphine is the most addictive of narcotic analgesics. Because morphine affects the central nervous system, no other central nervous system depressant should be taken (e.g. alcohol) at the same time.

Laws

While legal narcotics can be prescribed by your doctor to treat a medical condition, unlawful possession and obtaining multiple prescriptions without proper disclosure of these medications are prohibited.

Opium, morphine and heroin are governed under Schedule I of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of the Criminal Code. Both unlawful possession and obtaining multiple prescriptions without proper disclosure are criminal offences Trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession for the purpose of exporting, production, import and export are indictable offences punishable by up to life imprisonment.

Where to go for help

For more information on narcotics, please talk to your family doctor or your school counsellor. Many police stations, hospitals and community centers often have drug withdrawal programs that can help you get over the dependence to the drug. You can also check out the Health Canada website or the links below.

Links

Health Canada – Drug Product Database
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Recovery resources online
Canadian centre for substance abuse
National Institute on Drug Abuse – Heroin
Global Youth Network – Heroin
Fact Monster.com