Opiate Narcotics are potentially addictive pain killing drugs that may produce a sense of well-being and euphoria. Opiate narcotics are also referred to as narcotic analgesics.
There are different kinds of opiate narcotics. Some, like morphine and codeine, are natural drugs which are derived from the opium poppy plant. Heroin, a potent narcotic analgesic, is obtained by chemically altering morphine.
Other opiates are synthetic and produced in laboratories. These synthetic drugs are chemically related to opiates, but are not prepared from opium. These drugs include meperidine (sold under the brand name Demerol) and pentazocine (Talwin). Methadone, another synthetic narcotic analgesic, is used in the treatment of Heroin addiction. All opiates and opiate substitutes are addictive to some degree and have the potential for abuse.
Immediate effects depend on the person's mood prior to taking the drug, the amount taken, the environment, and whether the person has been using other drugs.
Opiates stimulate the higher brain centers, but depress the central nervous system. Narcotic abusers typically feel a rush of pleasure after injecting the drug.
When taken for medical purposes, opiates can reduce acute pain. Doctors usually prescribe opiates after surgery, and for pain related to injury or illness. Opiates are also used to relieve severe cough or diarrhea.
Nausea and constipation are sometimes side effects of opiate use. An average dose also brings on drowsiness and sleep.
Higher doses of opiates impair the respiratory system. The mouth gets dry, and the skin can become cold, moist and blue, and the pupils become like pinpoints.
If the user overdoses, there is danger of breathing being depressed to the point of coma or death.
People who use opiates over a long period of time may experience decreased sexual drive, constipation and menstrual irregularity. If the drugs are taken by injection, there are risks associated with dirty needles, such as infections, liver disease, AIDS, and other complications.
Opiates are not considered safe to use during pregnancy. Women who take opiates while pregnant have higher then normal rates of miscarriage, breech delivery and premature birth. The babies born to heroin addicted women are often addicted themselves, and go through withdrawal after birth.
Tolerance is the body adapting to the presence of a drug. When tolerance to a drug increases, more of the drug is necessary to achieve the same effect.
Opiate users often build up tolerance. The craving or compulsion to take the drug is strong. As well, there are physical withdrawal symptoms if use is discontinued abruptly. These can include a runny nose, goose bumps, stomach cramps, diarrhea, yawning, tears, and a sense of uneasiness. The worst of the effects pass with in a few days, but it can take weeks or months for the body to get completely back to normal.